performers’ at club should feel ‘guilty’ over manager’s exit

Thomas Frank sacking: Steven Gerrard says ‘under-performers’ at club should feel ‘guilty’ over manager’s exit

TNT Sports experts Steven Gerrard and Owen Hargreaves have given their reaction to Thomas Frank's sacking by Spurs. The Dane was let go after a defeat to Newcastle on Tuesday. Gerrard says the players should "feel guilty" for what has happened and many should take a "long, hard look at themselves", while Hargreaves said Frank was on a hiding to nothing because the club has "so many issues".

Steven Gerrard believes Tottenham's players have to shoulder the blame for Thomas Frank losing his job, with the TNT Sports expert saying several members of the squad should be taking "a long, hard look at themselves".

Frank was sacked following a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United on Tuesday night, a result which left his side just five points above the Premier League relegation places.

The 52-year-old only arrived at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the summer, when he replaced Ange Postecoglou in the hot seat.

But a turbulent campaign has seen him lose 11 of his 26 league matches at the helm.

As such, supporters were left calling for action from the board, with some even chanting for the return of ex-boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Speaking on TNT Sports, former Liverpool skipper Gerrard says Frank cannot take all the heat for their miserable league position.

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"I thought it was a good appointment at the time," Gerrard said. "I think he deserved the opportunity, he was outstanding at Brentford.

"[They are] very different jobs in terms of expectation and pressure. When you’re the manager of Tottenham, you’re expected to win.

"You’re following in the footsteps of [Jose] Mourinho and [Antonio] Conte and it's a different level of job, but they’re just not aligned as a club.

"The players have got to take big responsibility for this sacking. If I was a player in the Tottenham dressing room sitting at home, I would feel guilty."

Frank spent seven years at Brentford before moving to Spurs.

During his time with The Bees, he not only guided the club into the top flight but also established them as a Premier League team.

He did not, however, have a playing career of note and Gerrard thinks the Tottenham squad did not give him the respect he deserved.

"From the off the players haven’t given Thomas Frank a chance collectively and consistently," he added.

"It’s happening too many times where the manager, in these situations, gets the blame, when it’s quite clear to me that there are a few under-performers.

"There are a few injuries but there’s a few in that Tottenham dressing room that need to have a long hard look at themselves in my opinion.

"He wasn’t a huge name, a name that comes with instant box office, your [Thomas] Tuchels, your Mourinhos, your Contes; all these types of names.

"As a player, he deserved that opportunity to be the Tottenham manager and I think collectively they let him down."

"This has been coming" - Hargreaves

This is not the first season in which Spurs have struggled in the Premier League.

Despite winning the UEFA Europa League in 2024/25, they finished 17th in the top flight.

That was their lowest position at the end of a campaign since 1976/77.

Frank was charged with re-establishing Tottenham as one of the 'big six' but the board were forced to act after an eighth league game without a win.

TNT Sports expert Owen Hargreaves echoed some of Gerrard's comments, as he said: "He deserved an opportunity. He did a brilliant job at Brentford.

"Yes, they won the Europa League, but they were dreadful in the Premier League.

"This has been coming for quite some time and I think it's not only on Thomas Frank, it's on the football club.

"The recruitment's not been good enough. You think about Tottenham; you think about Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, [Harry] Kane and Son [Heung-Min].

"When you're in that league position with the squad that they have and the money that they've spent ... their home record, I think they've only had two wins all season.

"You've got the best stadium in the country. The best training ground in the country.

"They're missing [James] Maddison, [Dejan] Kulusevski, some of their best players. The [Cristian] Romero red card [away to Manchester United] - that didn't help.

"Their best player is their centre-back, [Micky] van de Ven. He'll probably go and play for a Real Madrid or Barcelona eventually.

"I think they have so many issues and I just wanted Thomas Frank to do well, because I think he's a really good manager. He speaks about his players incredibly well.

"It just didn't feel like it was a good fit for them and they weren't getting results.

"This industry's all about results and they weren't getting them."

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