Thomas Frank is making a significant impact in his first months as the head coach of Tottenham Hotspur, as evidenced by their impressive victory against Manchester City last Saturday. The team's performance demonstrated the hallmarks of a classic Thomas Frank squad, showcasing effective pressing and swift counter-attacks that led to their unexpected win at City. As the season progresses, Spurs have kicked off with an impressive record, winning both of their initial matches.
In a post-match interview with TNT Sports in the UK, Thomas Frank shared his thoughts on the challenging nature of playing at Manchester City. “I think this is one of the most difficult places to go in the Premier League. A City side that needs to bounce back from last season. You can see they came with everything. Before our goal, I think without dominating us, they were more on top all around the game. But we stayed in it, were solid, top mentality. Games like this are early days; it is still tough to come here. After the 1-0 goal, we were actually more or less the better side. I am very impressed with how we stepped up in the second half,” he remarked.
When asked if Spurs had learned from their previous defeat in the UEFA Super Cup final against PSG, where they squandered a 2-0 lead, Frank acknowledged the importance of that match. “I think there’s a couple of things; this is also 10 days later, so it’s also the learning from that game. But I think especially the high pressure was consistently good in the second half. They struggled to get out of that. I am very happy with that,” he explained.
Reflecting on his arrival at Tottenham this summer amidst the club’s previous struggles in the league, Frank noted the strong mentality within the squad. “I found a very strong mentality in the players. It was a group of players that has been through a tough season ending on a high. I think those tough moments hold them even closer together. Great mentality in many ways. And then we had to build on that,” he stated.
Regarding the increased scrutiny that comes with being the manager of Spurs, Thomas Frank was clear about his approach. “I am aware of it. I am not on social media. I don’t think it does any good to anyone, in my opinion. Secondly, I read very, very little in the media. That doesn’t give me any good. Half of it, I can’t swear, half of it is wrong, and half of it is just clickbait. I don’t read too much, and I love football, but the other bit I don’t care,” he asserted.
On the topic of Richarlison and his competition with Dominic Solanke, Frank praised Richarlison’s performance in the match. “I think Richy performed well today. Top assist. Presence up there. Work ethic. Everything was very good. We need two good strikers. We are going to play a lot of games. Of course, Richy is now starting, and now he needs to keep his shirt,” he concluded.
