LONDON — The former Tottenham Hotspur manager navigated the previous season thanks to having a trophy at stake. So where should Thomas Frank look for motivation now?
Spurs’ 2-1 defeat at home to Aston Villa marked the end of their FA Cup journey at the earliest possible stage. They are also out of the Carabao Cup and find themselves in 14th place in the Premier League. They still nurture ambitions of progressing to the UEFA Champions League knockout stages, but even the most hopeful Spurs supporter would struggle to believe they can conquer Europe’s fiercest club tournament.
Consequently, Frank is likely feeling quite vulnerable at this moment. Ange Postecoglou enjoyed the protection of a Europa League run to deflect some of the growing scrutiny of his time in charge. Ultimately, it concluded triumphantly as Spurs secured their first trophy in 17 years by lifting the Europa League in May. However, the team’s persistent underperformance over an extended period prompted a change in management.
Frank has inherited significant challenges: a squad lacking balance and quality, a restless fanbase, and a frail defense. The issue lies in the increasing difficulty of identifying any evidence of improvement in addressing these problems.
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Tottenham’s initial season defensive strength and effectiveness on set-pieces have faded. Villa quickly established a 2-0 lead at halftime with goals from Emi Buendia and Donyell Malen, both well-crafted but afforded excessive space and time to operate.
Their offensive play appears disjointed, though Spurs did show some fight after the intermission. Wilson Odobert narrowed the gap with a low shot in the 54th minute, and although they displayed increased energy and urgency, Spurs finished with an expected goals tally of 0.55. While this was not as dismal as some of the ineffective displays Frank has overseen, they still failed to pose a consistent threat to Villa’s goal.
The slight improvement in the second half could be perceived in two ways: either it symbolizes the fading embers of a failed regime or it offers a glimmer of hope that Frank can spark a more sustained upswing.
The leadership at Tottenham now faces a significant test of resolve. Upcoming Premier League matches against West Ham United and Burnley lie ahead. Both teams are currently situated in the relegation zone. A failure to secure wins in either of those matches would leave Frank’s position precarious.
This matchday squad and program paid homage to the club’s history, marking the 125th anniversary of their inaugural FA Cup triumph in 1901. Frank frequently mentions the brighter future on the horizon, particularly with long-term absentees such as striker Dominic Solanke — who made his return for the final seven minutes after ankle surgery — forward Dejan Kulusevski and midfielder James Maddison rejoining a team more aligned with his vision.
Reflecting on the past and future is one thing, yet the current situation has become a major concern. Spurs fans would be justified in believing their season is dissolving before their eyes.
«Certainly, it is disappointing,» Frank stated. «We are all affected. There is nothing we desire more than to advance to the next round, regardless of the opposition. We played at home and had a promising chance.
«Regrettably, we couldn’t progress. We approached this with our best resources available. We all reflect on the match and recognize we could have performed better in both halves.»
The full-time altercation involving Villa forward Ollie Watkins, Spurs midfielder João Palhinha, and several other players was the sort of scuffle typical at the conclusion of a match, but skeptics might associate it with the loss of composure and discipline that has become increasingly concerning under Frank. Perhaps that’s why Frank took the unexpected route of criticizing Watkins, who seemed to be acknowledging the Villa supporters while in close proximity to Palhinha.
«Certainly, maintaining a calm demeanor is crucial,» he remarked. «The players exerted themselves fully out there, losing a closely contested match, and the season isn’t going as smoothly as we’d like; I believe Ollie’s actions are quite provocative in terms of how he chooses to celebrate in front of the Villa fans.
«He merely walked into João when he could easily have circumnavigated him. Anyone with a competitive mindset knows it’s challenging, as such moments can aggravate tensions.»
Indeed, but Spurs have been set off by many factors recently, from conflicts with supporters at Bournemouth midweek to Djed Spence and Micky van de Ven seemingly neglecting Frank after the defeat to Chelsea in November. Cristian Romero was absent here due to a suspension following a red card against Liverpool, having received an additional game ban for «acting improperly by failing to leave the field of play promptly» after a previous red card against Liverpool.
This paints a troubling broader picture. Upon sacking Postecoglou, a line from the accompanying club statement declared: «It is vital that we position ourselves to compete on multiple fronts and believe a change in strategy will provide us the best chance for the upcoming season and beyond.»
That belief is now being tested to its limits.
