Tottenham Hotspur head coach Thomas Frank has delivered a startlingly honest assessment of his first season in charge, confessing he is not currently enjoying the role as he navigates a turbulent period for the North London club.
A 'Heavy Mile' in the Spurs Marathon
The admission came after his side were booed off the pitch by their own travelling supporters following a drab 0-0 draw with Brentford on Thursday. Chants of "boring, boring Tottenham" echoed around the Gtech Community Stadium, underscoring the growing frustration with the team's lack of creativity and attacking threat.
Frank, however, urged for perspective, framing the immense challenges as a necessary part of a long-term rebuild. He likened the situation to running a marathon, stating the club is currently in one of its "more heavy miles."
"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 explained. "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."
Injury Crisis and Executive Uncertainty
The Danish coach reiterated a long list of issues hampering progress, with a severe injury crisis at the forefront. Key attacking talents James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski have been missing all season, while striker Dominic Solanke has been absent since the third game, though he has now returned to training.
"When I walked in the door I didn't expect Solanke and Maddison to be out for seven months, or for Kulusevski not to be ready," Frank said, offering a glimpse into the disrupted planning.
Off the pitch, uncertainty persists in the boardroom. The departure of long-standing chairman Daniel Levy has been followed by speculation over the future of co-sporting director Fabio Paratici, who is heavily linked with a move to Italian side Fiorentina. When questioned on who Paratici is currently working for, Frank replied with a smile: "Good question, maybe you know," before affirming he is still "working very hard for Tottenham."
Holding Nerve for Long-Term Success
With Tottenham languishing in 12th place in the Premier League and pressure mounting for January signings, Frank was clear that the club must not panic. The recent £35 million sale of Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace has increased calls for reinvestment, but the head coach emphasised a strict long-term strategy.
His message is that only players who will help the club towards the ultimate goal of challenging for major honours will be considered, even if it means enduring more short-term pain.
"We will do everything we can to improve the squad," Frank stated. "But short-term impact can't limit long-term success. The flip-side is that if we can do something that will really improve us, we should go very hard for that."
Despite the current gloom, Frank remains convinced that this difficult phase will prove invaluable. He believes that when the squad emerges on the other side, they will be "stronger and wiser for the suffering," and this period will be viewed as a crucial learning experience in the club's journey.
