Thomas Frank Defends His Ability To Lead Spurs After Arsenal Humiliation

Thomas Frank has fixed a robust defence of his credentials astatine Tottenham, saying he was wholly convinced of his expertise to rebuild nan nine and lead it to success. The head is nether mounting unit aft Spurs’ 4-1 derby humiliation astatine Arsenal connected Sunday, a consequence that extended a troubling run.

Tottenham person won 3 of 11 matches successful each competitions since nan extremity of September and it has been arsenic overmuch astir nan deficiency of spark and personality successful galore of nan performances. It was particularly truthful against Arsenal erstwhile Frank group up successful a 5-4-1 statement and watched his squad neglect to laic a mitt connected their rivals.

Frank made it clear that he would not tally from nan debacle aft he arrived successful France pinch his players for their daunting Champions League duty astatine Paris Saint-Germain connected Wednesday night. He has gone done nan footage of it successful forensic detail, seeking uncomfortable truths and answers. But now, he insisted, was not a clip for self-doubt. As Spurs participate a defining spell, it was each astir nan response. After PSG, they look Fulham (home) and Newcastle (away) earlier taking connected Frank’s erstwhile club, Brentford, astatine home.

“Part of taking this occupation was to person nan challenges,” he said. “Part of that is to negociate those setbacks and study and move on. One point I’m 1000% judge of … I cognize really to build a team, I cognize really to build a nine and we will do that. The large point is really we study from nan bad spells. That’s erstwhile we besides tin spot erstwhile we spell 1-0 down – really do we respond arsenic a team? The champion teams conscionable continually move on. They still tally hard, they still do nan aforesaid thing. There’s nary uncertainty successful that.”

Frank has talked, grudgingly, astir really Arsenal are years up of Spurs because of nan continuity they person enjoyed nether Mikel Arteta, and he applied nan constituent to PSG and Luis Enrique, who endured immoderate reliable moments during his first play astatine nan nine successful 2023-24. Luis Enrique’s squad moreover made an unconvincing commencement successful nan Champions League past clip retired earlier hitting their stride and winning nan competition.

“This is his 3rd season,” Frank said. “His first play … he had to return a batch of battles and he besides turned everything astir from playing pinch nan biggest players successful Europe to little stars; very wished players that play for nan team. He created 1 of nan champion teams successful nan world by making those changes. Even past year, they were adjacent to getting knocked retired of nan Champions League. It’s marginal sometimes.”

Frank said “the biggest point to attraction on” erstwhile he took complete astatine Spurs successful nan summertime was nan defence. “Because nary squad wins thing if they can’t defend.” The astir strident disapproval of Frank has been astir nan deficiency of chance creation, which he accepted was valid. But arsenic he stressed that his teams had ever scored goals, he maintained nan shortcomings against Arsenal were not because of nan formation, alternatively nan deficiency of aggression successful nan duels.

“The astir disappointing point was that we were not capable to compete,” Frank said. “We had 53 situations wherever it was for illustration a duel, [a] second-ball situation, wherever either Arsenal went agelong aliases we went long. We came retired connected apical connected 17 of those and mislaid 36. If you don’t do that … it is basic, past it’s very difficult to triumph a shot match.

“We were not fierce capable erstwhile we pushed forward. We were not securing nan shot good capable which is besides portion of that. We were not landing successful nan correct areas for wherever nan 2nd shot landed. If you play 4-3-3, 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1, 7-9-13 … it doesn’t matter if you’re not doing that.”

Frank reported nary caller wounded concerns aft Arsenal. Brennan Johnson is suspended aft his reddish paper against Copenhagen.