'Doomsday scenario' for Spurs after 'blows' - Van de Ven

Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven says they found themselves in a "doomsday scenario" during their Champions League match against Atletico Madrid, adding the club is "just taking blow after blow".

Spurs suffered a shambolic 5-2 defeat at Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday - their fourth successive defeat under interim boss Igor Tudor.

The Premier League club trailed 4-0 after only 22 minutes, with goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky withdrawn in the 17th minute, having conceded three times in an error-strewn start.

Spurs have lost six straight games in all competitions and are winless in nine.

Van de Ven, speaking to Dutch broadcaster Ziggo Sport, said the start of the match was "terrible", adding: "It's actually a doomsday scenario. Everything that could go wrong went wrong.

"For our goalkeeper it's terrible as well of course. You don't wish that on anyone.

"For 15 minutes we just conceded goals that you really can't do anything about."

Former Juventus and Marseille boss Tudor's appointment as interim head coach in February followed Thomas Frank's dismissal after less than eight months in charge, but has yet to have the desired impact to lift the side.

With Spurs 16th in the Premier League and just a point clear of third-bottom West Ham, the top priority over the remainder of the season is avoiding a first relegation from the top flight since 1977.

They return to domestic duties on Sunday when they travel to defending league champions Liverpool, while a crucial home game on 22 March against relegation rivals Nottingham Forest follows next Wednesday's second leg against Atletico Madrid.

"Right now we're just taking blow after blow after blow," said Van de Ven, who will miss the trip to Liverpool after being sent off in last Thursday's 3-1 home loss to Crystal Palace.

"It's just really tough, and now we also have an important match this weekend that I won't be able to play in because I'm suspended.

"It's a really terrible period, I can tell you that. It's really, really awful."

Van de Ven said he no longer checks his phone amid the club's current plight.

"I'm not on my phone anymore. I'm completely done with it. Just my family, so it'll be fine," added the 24-year-old.

"It's rough, really rough. I have to keep going. It's part of it, that's life and we'll see what's coming."