Thomas Frank spoke to the media after training at Hotspur Way on Tuesday afternoon to look ahead to his first return to his former club, Brentford, on Thursday (1 January, 8pm UK).
Here’s what he had to say...
Any team news?
Thomas: “No, everyone should be available.”
Could Cristian Romero be suspended for longer over his FA charge?
Thomas: “No, he’s ready for the game (on Thursday). As far as I know it’s something that will be decided in early January.”
Any update on Destiny Udogie’s return?
Thomas: “He is running out there on the pitch, doing individual sessions on the pitch so progressing going forwards, so that’s good.”
How are you reacting to the media reports about Brennan Johnson’s future?
Thomas: “Again, this is the third time I think I've got this question. There's rumours out there, in general I'll not comment on that, no matter if we want to sign or sell a player, or get a staff member in or out. I've no interest in commenting either way.”
Is Brennan available for Thursday?
Thomas: “He contributed to a very good and important win against Crystal Palace. He trained very well today. I expect him fully to be available and able to play against Brentford.”
Do you expect to be busy in the January transfer window?
Thomas: “We are, we will be in the market. We are definitely interested in, if we can, strengthening the squad. We will do that, I've said it a few times before that I think it's very important of course there are different types you can add to a squad, but the main bit is that we ones we add need to be the ones we really think can improve the team. And then, like normal, there can be outgoings if you want to try to make a sharp squad.”
How do you feel about returning to Brentford?
Thomas: “That one cannot be business as usual. That is special. I don't think I have thought that much about a game where it's coming back to me and I'm actually happy that I have those emotions, because that means it meant something to me, the nine years I spent at Brentford, almost seven as a Head Coach. Brentford Football Club, the fans and especially the people that I worked closely with have a special place in my heart. That's the longest time I have ever been in a club and we achieved incredible things together, so that is very, very special. First and foremost, I need to be extremely focused to go right instead of going left when I come out to the stadium, that's the first thing! And it will be special when I arrive, just before the match starts, but of course when the first whistle goes there's only one aim, and that is doing everything I can, together with the team, to perform well and get three points.”
Will it be a strange feeling going back for the first time?
Thomas: “Strange, I don’t know. I would say, not strange, special, special in every aspect. It’s special because there is one job to do, I’m Head Coach for this fantastic club, I’m working night and day to do everything I can to improve the team and the club, and that is one aim, that I want to win the football match ahead of me, together with the team. Then it’s special to come back first time in front of all the fantastic Brentford fans and the players and the staff I know very well.”
What did you learn from the home game against them?
Thomas: “I learned a few things. I know we won the game, but before that and also after here, you can see they're strong, they've done well. I think they're such a top example to follow for a lot of football people, what they have created. Actually, in many ways, it's super, super good that they performed well. I'm happy for that because when you leave something, you want to make sure that hopefully the impact you had is sustainable. The bit we built together, me and a lot of other people, because it's not only about me, built a very strong culture, very strong organisation, very strong structure, so they could hire from within an unexperienced head coach, but a good person, good football knowledgeable person in Keith (Andrews) and good leadership skills, carry on with a lot of other good people in the organisation, so basically, take me, four staff members, four key players, and they're still performing in the most competitive league in the world. That is very, very remarkable. That's unbelievable. It's a b it like that, that I, on the flip side, want to create here in Tottenham, something unbelievable, a strong culture, strong organisation, strong structure, so no matter what things happen, we are strong and stable. We can be strong and stable and consistent, you have a real chance to create something magical. That's the aim, what I want to do again here in Tottenham, and that's what they have done very well.”
Brentford are known to use a lot of data – is that something you want to replicate at Spurs?
Thomas: “I think these days every club has very good data. I think the scouting department that Rob and Johan Lange have built together here is very strong. I see a lot of similarities to what I saw in Brentford, so that's relatively even. Of course, they have a bigger base also with Matthew's company behind it. I think what people didn't understand fully about Brentford, the real secret sauce was the people, the culture that was built stronger and stronger, year after year.”
How is Brennan Johnson’s mindset at the moment?
Thomas: “As I said, Brennan is a very important player for us. Sometimes things change if another player comes in. Unfortunately for him, Kudus came in and played on the right side and has done well, so it's been a little bit more tricky to get enough starts. He started the season also quite well from the left. I think Brennan has a lot of attributes – very good running in behind, very good scoring goals, that's a good quality – so some of those key things is fantastic. Also working hard for the team, but you need more than just 11 players. That's the way it is. I think Brennan has been a top professional, is a top professional, trained well today. He's ready for two days' time.”
Have you identified a January transfer window ‘shopping list’?
Thomas: “I think there's a few things you need to understand. The January window is the most difficult window, so I understand it's a window and everyone is super excited speaking about it. It will not stop after the 31st of January. That's the way it is. As I said, I can't highlight enough, we are in the market, we are prepared, we are working, but I also think it's super important, as I said before, every decision I take, or I take together with the other guys in terms of decision-making, is for the future of the club. There's no reason to sign a player if you don't think it's for the future of the club, if it is just helping a little bit the next six months, we need to build something sustainable that can be very strong and powerful. That journey takes time, and that journey needs to take good, clever decisions along the way. That's maybe not 'wow', but good decisions that can make us more stable and more competitive and then we are from there. So we are there, but we'll see what's happening.”
Is Lucas Bergvall completely fine after Crystal Palace?
Thomas: “Lucas is okay. I am quite positive that he will be available. Of course, there's a small doubt, but it's quite possible that he will be available.”
How difficult is it for the club to keep selling and replacing goalscorers?
Thomas: “Goals are very important and they're very difficult to find. There's no two ways about that. That's very important, so it's important that how can we make sure we have enough goals in the team and players that can score goals. That's the key thing. That's, of course, also what we are looking after to try to improve. I think the positive bits from this season so far is to think Richy has done well and been fit and available for more than almost eight months since we started, but we need to have enough players with goals. Both developing them, but also finding players that can score goals for the future.”
Is it in your mind that Radu Dragusin might need to head out to get the minutes he needs?
Thomas: “Right now, I am just so happy to see him come onto the pitch. Being out for nine months or 10 months, something like that, so for him it is a massive step to step onto the pitch that he missed so much. For me that is the most important thing. I also spoke to you guys about a month or six weeks ago that he needed more training, more game minutes with the Under-21s and he progressively got better and more and more fit, so it’s all about that and regarding rumours, rumours are rumours.”
What’s the plan for Mason Melia when he comes in in the New Year?
Thomas: “We need him in the club first on the first of January. There are a lot of moving parts and then when we know all the moving parts, we’ll take the final decision on what we’re doing.”
What’s your assessment of the club’s Premier League record in 2025?
Thomas: “Probably not the greatest record, isn’t that fair to say? What can I say, I have been involved in half of them or something like that, so that’s the bit I can assess. I think for a club of Tottenham’s stature, we need to win more than 11 out of 37 games. I also said when I came in, this is part of a longer, longer journey and there is not a quick fix. We are doing everything we can to improve things and make sure things get better bit by bit. Alongside that, we are also playing Champions League, which we are very happy with and that is where we’re aiming to be every year if possible.”
What’s the plan to winning games more often in 2026?
Thomas: “I think slowly, bit by bit, adding those layers where we are competitive in the games for example where not everything is perfect. I think that was a big step against Crystal Palace. It was a beautiful, ugly win. To go away to a very difficult away ground and win 1-0, it is definitely a quality you need to have if you want to achieve something big because one thing for sure is you are not going to play 38 perfect games. You play at least, at least 10 s*** games and can you win three or four of them 1-0 on a rainy day? There is a lot of quality in that and then the next bit is we need to be better on the ball. For example that was not the best game on the ball against Crystal Palace. That is one area we are working very hard on and also being a more offensive threat. That we are also working on but for that game it is also fair to say we are still without Xavi, Maddison, Kulusevski and Solanke, some of our most creative players and others are stepping up and doing everything they can to help the team, but that is also part of it.”