Frank's Brutal Honesty on Tottenham Struggles
Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has delivered a starkly honest verdict on his challenging start to life in North London, admitting he is not currently enjoying the role. The Danish coach, who joined from Brentford in the summer, saw an initial bright spark fade dramatically, with Spurs now sitting in a disappointing 12th place at the Premier League's halfway mark.
A Season Fading After Fast Start
The optimism from Frank's early days has dissipated following a run of just two wins in the last ten league matches. The mood was captured in the team's last outing, a 0-0 draw with Frank's former club Brentford, which concluded with sections of the home support booing the players off the pitch. Ahead of Sunday's fixture against Sunderland, Frank did not attempt to sugar-coat the situation.
When directly questioned on whether he was enjoying his tenure so far, the manager's reply was succinct: "So the short answer is no." He elaborated with a vivid analogy, comparing the current grind to a painful training run. "When you need to put in a big, big shift and it's not smooth and it's tough, it's probably difficult to enjoy it," Frank stated.
"I'll give you an example. If I run hard, I don't enjoy that moment. But I know I need to keep my head down and run hard to get through it... We're in a situation where you need to run hard, to stay in it, to get through it." He expressed hope that this difficult period would later be viewed as a crucial learning experience, describing the managerial journey as "definitely a marathon" where he is currently on one of the heavier miles.
Injury and Absence Crisis Ahead of Sunderland Clash
Compounding Frank's challenges is a significant selection headache for the visit of Sunderland. The squad is severely depleted by suspension, international duty, and injury.
- Xavi Simons is suspended following a red card.
- Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma are away at the Africa Cup of Nations.
- Lucas Bergvall remains a fitness doubt.
- James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are long-term absentees.
There is a glimmer of positive news regarding striker Dominic Solanke, who is nearing a return after being sidelined since August. However, Frank refused to be drawn on a specific date for the forward's comeback, insisting he would only confirm details when Solanke is back involved with the squad.
Opponents Sunderland have their own selection woes, with six players including Habib Diarra and Bertrand Traore also at AFCON. However, Black Cats boss Regis Le Bris is riding a wave of confidence after his team's draw with Manchester City extended their unbeaten home run to ten matches. He emphasised the need for his side to maintain their high standards and ambitious mindset as they travel to the capital.
For Thomas Frank and Tottenham, the immediate task is clear: stop the slide, navigate through an injury crisis, and find a way to start enjoying the race again. The marathon continues this weekend at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
