Spurs 3-2 Atletico Madrid | Every word of Igor Tudor's post-match press conference

Igor Tudor spoke to the media after our 3-2 win but 7-5 loss on aggregate to Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, second leg at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday night.

Here's what he had to say...

I know Spurs are out, but were you very happy with that performance?

Igor: "It's nice, the sensation and feelings are mixed, of course. We are out, but as you said, it was a sensation of one very good team on the pitch, one very good performance of the players, the energy, as you said before, was very nice. From the first moment, the fans recognised that the team will try to do everything they can do, so from the first moment until the last moment, they were with us, it was beautiful. Thanks."

Archie Gray, what a performance, what did you make of him?

Igor: "I agree. He's a guy, you know the positions he plays everywhere, so probably this position in the middle is, I believe, the best one for him, but he's playing continually in the right way, in a good way. It's a mix of quality, physically and mentally, to always make the right choices and be humble and have legs to do so. He needs to continue this, he's still young, so every day he needs a new confirmation. Together with Pape, I see them very well, there's a quality between these two players. The last two games, they really made a difference. But also, I think Xavi was very good, happy for him, showed the talent, it was not easy to play there in the middle, where it's always difficult, in the front, Mathys also, did good things. Kolo as well, behind, so it was a sensation that even we can make it, when it was a foul on Xavi, the referee didn't give us the foul, that little bit changed the game, but as I said before, we take a good direction as a team and we need to continue."

You created a lot of chances - what's clicked?

Igor: "You work, you work, you work, and then there is a game that shows what you work for. The players, what was the key, they believed that we can pass, so they really believed that was the key, after 1-0 more. As I said before, the performance in this moment where we are, it's very important that it happens, this kind of performance, three days after Liverpool."

How important was that first Atletico first goal and the not given foul on Xavi?

Igor: "Yes, but for me it was key, it was obviously a foul. Okay, this is how it is."

You've worked a lot with the team - do you think you are starting to see the fruits of your labours with the way the team is playing?

Igor: "Of course the last two games we improved, but as I said two games before, it's impossible to judge these two games, because what happened in the first 20 minutes against Madrid, there is nothing about the coach, team, tactics, training. There is nothing about it. I believe Crystal Palace, the game before, we had 1-0 and total control of the game - red card so as well, nothing about it. In football, you need confirmation every day, every day, every day, every Sunday. There is on Sunday an important game as we know but it will not decide nothing yet. As I said before, it will be decided everything in the last two or three games, I believe."

Do you have confidence that it won't be too long before Tottenham are back in Europe?

Igor: "No, why should it be? Next year, no. The year after that, can go again. Why not? Winning a trophy last season gave confidence to the players, for sure. They feel like in European competition, because as you know, it's totally different if you have this experience in European competition, with a lot of players who win that, so this gives you more confidence when you play European competition games. So we saw this even today. When you are a Europa League winner and you come to play today, you feel strong. They showed this in the pitch from the first moment. After seeing today, there is even more questions about the first game. If it didn't happen, what happened, I believe we have a good chance to pass against Atletico Madrid. Even I need to repeat that today we have again 11 players and on the bench just one player. One player is Danso. All three players - Bergvall, Udogie and Conor - doctors say they can play at least maximum 20 minutes, 25 minutes. So, you have only Danso as a substitute. You play with 11 plus Danso in this kind of a game, and I don't count these two young players. So imagine the situation, imagine the value of this victory here. You need to make a proclamation of substitutes, what happens if someone is out, how we can deal with Bergvall and Conor. So, it's a really particular moment, but you know how it is here in Tottenham, better than me with this kind of injuries. The value of this performance is even bigger because of these things."

How important was it for the team to feel this winning feeling again?

Igor: "I agree, I agree it was important. That's why I was angry about the counter attack in the last minute. We go with nine... I got a little bit angry there because in the last minute at least you wanted to take this, but I understand the players wanted to score a goal. It was nice in the end to at least take the victory. What you said, it's important also for the morale."

If feels like you've landed on a 4-4-2 system that suits the players?

Igor: "We will see, we will see. It's more other things. The system of course, but especially in this moment, the system is a mentality."