Thomas Frank delivered a glowing tribute to his Tottenham Hotspur squad following their commanding victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, which secured a coveted spot in the Champions League last 16. The North London side delivered one of their most polished performances of the campaign, netting two second-half goals to seal the win.
A Display of Strength and Resilience
Spurs demonstrated considerable fortitude throughout the match, with goals from Randal Kolo Muani and Dominic Solanke ensuring a comfortable finish. The result cemented their fourth-place position in the league phase, amassing an impressive 17 points and recording a sixth clean sheet in the process.
'Very happy for the performance,' beamed Frank in his post-match comments. 'The players showed great character, their mentality. We basically had 12 available players for Dortmund and in this game and in both games the players stepped up.'
Controlled Performance from Start to Finish
Frank emphasised the team's dominance, noting, 'This game we were more or less in control from the beginning to the end. That's a big thing. I need to say, we’ve seen some of the results in the Champions League tonight. We’ve seen some of the results throughout the league phase. There’s no easy games.'
Reflecting on the overall achievement, the manager added, 'So, we’re sitting here with 17 points, ending, finishing fourth in the group stage, sixth clean sheet. I think it’s very impressive.'
Kolo Muani's Heroics After Adversity
The night's standout performer was undoubtedly Randal Kolo Muani, who showcased remarkable resilience by scoring the opening goal just a day after being involved in a car accident. The striker's Ferrari Purosangue suffered a front right tyre blowout on the M25 as he travelled to the airport ahead of the crucial fixture.
Despite the unsettling incident, Kolo Muani led the line ahead of Solanke and excelled from the outset, breaking the deadlock with a close-range finish early in the second half.
Manager's Confidence in the Striker
Frank expressed his full confidence in the player's readiness, stating, 'He was ready. Of course, if there was any doubt that he couldn’t play, then we wouldn’t have done it. But he was fine and no physical aspect or mental aspect from the accident.'
The manager was particularly pleased with Kolo Muani's contribution, remarking, 'I was very happy that he scored the goal. Actually, he looked like a threat. He has had great actions throughout the game. So I’m very happy he got the goal and I said to him, please start scoring against others than your former clubs, that would be nice.'
Frank also acknowledged the challenges of adapting to a new club and league, adding, 'We know when you come to a new club, a new country, it’s never straightforward and never in the Premier League. I hope this will give him some confidence.'
This victory not only underscores Tottenham's growing prowess in European competition but also highlights the squad's depth and mental strength under Frank's stewardship.
