Thomas Frank spoke to the media at Hotspur Way on Friday morning, ahead of our 2025/26 Premier League opener against Burnley at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday (3pm), his first Premier League game as our Head Coach.
Here's what he had to say...
Q: Can we have the team news ahead of the game tomorrow?
Thomas: “Every player is available for the team tomorrow. Destiny is progressing, but's too early for him to be involved in the squad."
So many positives from Wednesday (UEFA Super Cup vs PSG), one negative was the awful abuse of Mathys Tel received. How is he?
“Of course, it’s terrible what happened to Mathys and it's we're doing everything we can to support him in this situation. He's a strong person, and with hopefully support from family, friends and us, he'll get through it. There is no real Tottenham supporter that will do that. The real Tottenham supporters that we will see tomorrow at the stadium, they'll back him. In tough times, we step up together and I expect the fans to give him really, really, really big cheer tomorrow.”
The transfer window is still open - do you think two, three, four over the next few weeks from what you’ve seen?
“First and foremost, in many ways, I'm very happy with the squad. There are a lot of good players. We saw a team that was very, very, very competitive (vs PSG) and on any other day, we would have beaten the best team in Europe. Of course, we want as strong and competitive squad as possible. I know that Daniel, Johan and Vinai are working night and day, and they have, by the way, been working night and day the last whatever, six, seven, eight weeks, and they definitely would like to do deals early. Sometimes I think we need to understand it's not that easy, but they're working.”
What’s the latest on Yves Bissouma? Is there a way back for him, or is it best for all concerned that he finds another club? Where are we with him?
“Bissouma was a situation. I addressed it. There was a consequence. Bissouma will be in the squad tomorrow. We move forward. We have a big game tomorrow.”
Mo Kudus - we’ve seen him play everywhere in his career - second striker, right wing, 10, eight - with your midfield injuries, would you play him as a 10 consistently, or do you prefer him in the wide areas?
“Depending on the game, the challenge, the game plan and so on, he can play in all those positions you just named. I think it’s probably right wing, 10, he can play both positions, but I like flexible players, that gives us opportunities, but those are the two main positions.”
Burnley’s defensive structure - five at the back, man marking, doubling up - what sort of tactical battle do you expect?
“In some ways, the challenge couldn’t be more different from the challenge we just faced two days ago against PSG, but the level of challenge is the same. It's just different (going) from not that much expectation to maybe more expectations tomorrow. As a team, a very good manager, Burnley did very well last year. We all know their defensive record - insane - 29 clean sheets, 16 goals conceded. It just shows you that the structure, the discipline, the mentality, the ability to defend - that's a challenge we need to embrace, and we will embrace. We will be positive, and we will attack, but it's a game where I see a game picture where we will dominate, and it can take time before we score the first goal. Of course, we would like to score inside the first minute and then the roof will go off the stadium and everyone will be happy, but you never know. We need to be ready for everything. One thing is for sure - all of us need to perform. The fans need to perform. We can only do it together. The fans and the team, if we are together, is like energy, pushing the players forward, and that will make it so much easier. We need help, of course.”
What's the most important thing you've learned about your team so far?
“I would like to say two things. One is the mentality of the group. We saw that against PSG. The way they dealt with that game, the way they worked, their approach to it. I think that was very good. And the ability to take on messages and game plans, because they executed it perfectly. Those are the two things.”
Do you have butterflies in your stomach - the first time managing a Premier League club other than Brentford?
“I will have tomorrow. If I'm honest now, I'm in work mode, last planning, we have training in three hours and all my focus is on that, and that’s normal with everything, fully, fully focussed on that. I know when I wake up tomorrow and step onto the pitch, I will feel it then, no doubt.”
You know what it’s like to be the underdog - how difficult is it to take on a newly-promoted team on the opening day when everyone expects you to win?
“Every game has its own challenges. The challenge tomorrow, of course, can we get enough tempo in the game? Can we play quick enough? How do we break down the low block of a 5-4-1? That’s the focus, let’s keep the tempo, keep the intensity, make sure we put pressure on them.”
You might need a number 10 due to James Maddison’s injury - tell us what kind of player you are looking for...
“We are looking, of course, we're in the market, not only for the 10 position, but to see if we can strengthen the squad, and the players we are looking at are only players we think can improve the squad. If we can pick the right player and it fits, we'll do something.”
Did you have a talk to Bissouma, how did you deal with the situation?
“We dealt with the situation. These situations, you deal with internally, of course. I'm looking forward. There's a big game tomorrow and that's where the main focus should be.”
How important could Richarlison be this season?
“I think Richy was really phenomenal (against PSG), his hold up play, his intensity, his pressing, his arriving in the box, some of it was really top, his attitude, top, top, top. I hope to see more of that. Of course, we’re aware of the fitness situation. That's something we've monitored closely. That's why, for example, he didn't play the first friendly against Reading, because he didn’t feel he was ready. We’ll do our best to help him. He's very focused, that's the main thing, and hopefully he can keep those levels.”
Where is Manor Solomon in terms of his injury recovery, is he part of your plans?
“Every player here is part of the plans. Manor is just back from his injury in terms of being on the pitch, he had part training with the team yesterday.”
From day one to now, are you where you want to be?
“That's a good question. I think that will be ongoing process throughout the season, because you constantly want to build the layers. We’ve had four, five, five weeks, that’s been really good. I'm very pleased and proud of how the team performed against PSG on Wednesday. That showed we’ve gone far with the defensive side of the game, high pressure, middle pressure, low pressure, set pieces, aggression, intensity, mentality. Now we have another part of the game. We will be more offensive tomorrow. We have to, we want to. That's probably completely honest. That's the area where we are probably not fully firing yet, for various reasons. We will have a plan and will be very ready for tomorrow.”
Do you think the players will be ready to go again after the demands of PSG, or will you have to freshen it up?
“The physical demands in every area were big, also mentally in the heat and so on. The players are very professional. They've recovered well. We've got a good team behind them who will help them. How much will I freshen it up? I'm thinking about that - that that can be from the start, that can also be during the game. I'm a big believer of, when needed, use five subs to bring that energy and freshness on the pitch. I’m also a big believer that the third game is more tricky than the second game.”
With Bissouma, was it important for you to set standards, rather than allow that situation to develop?
“Yes, you can say that, but I've done exactly the same in Brentford or other places where I've worked before. I just have some certain standards and demands and as I said, players need a lot of love, I mean that, there needs to be a lot of demands and there needs to be consequences if those demands are not met.”
What the thinking behind the likes of Mikey Moore, Will Lankshear going out on loan?
“It’s that fine balance between there's a lot of learning by training with the first team boys here at a level, and I think that learning from the intensity, physicality, professionalism of higher level players is very good. and also part of having enough players in the squad. And then the most important thing for any player is playing minutes. So, it’s that balance.”
Was there a reason why Brennan Johnson and Lucas Bergvall weren’t the first options to come off the bench against PSG?
“It was a slightly different shape, that impacted it a little bit, let's say, in Brennan's case. Of course, he can play as one of two strikers as well, one of the things Mathys has done well. We're going to need a lot of players in different positions with different abilities. I think that Lucas has done very well, but I like Archie as well. They are slightly different types - Lucas is probably a little bit more offensive, Archie, a little bit more defensive, so that's why at that stage when he came on, Archie's profile just fitted a little bit better.”
How much are you looking forward to walking out at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Spurs manager for the first time?
“Oh, that's going to be special, of course. It's a first time for everything, and that will be the first time, and that will be special.”