A new era begins for Tottenham Hotspur under Thomas Frank, as they kick off their 2025/26 pre-season campaign with a trip to south-east England to take on Reading on Saturday afternoon.
After nearly two months away, Spurs are back. A lot has changed in that time – the biggest undoubtedly being the managerial one.
Despite delivering the club’s first major trophy in 17 years, Ange Postecoglou was sacked just weeks later, in a decision that did not sit well with the majority of Spurs supporters. And so, with an air of chaos that only Tottenham can manage, the ‘Thomas Frank era’ begins.
Not sure how many fans were ready for another rebuild – or even asked for it, considering the fact that Ange had taught this group of players who finally, like he described, ‘know how to win’. Anyway, Thomas Frank was the fan-favourite to replace him, so there is, without a doubt, a lot of excitement to see what the new manager can bring in.
From the outset, it seemed like Frank would have to deal with a torn-apart dressing room following Ange’s sacking. But if the training clips are anything to go by, the Dane seems to have settled in nicely. It helps, of course, that he’s taken over a side fresh off winning the Europa League.
As for Reading, this is their first outing of pre-season too, following the heartbreak of missing out on Championship promotion on the final day. A 4-2 defeat to Barnsley saw them slip out of the qualification spots. Since being relegated from the Championship in 2023, they have inched closer to bouncing back. This could be the season they finally go up.
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What time does Reading vs Spurs kick off?
Where to watch the pre-season friendly between Reading and Tottenham Hotspur
The match will be broadcast live on SPURSPLAY, though availability may vary by region. Additional broadcast details for international viewers are expected to be confirmed closer to the matchday.
Reading vs Tottenham Hotspur: Head to head record
The two sides have met three times in recent history (all friendlies). And Tottenham have enjoyed the upper hand on every occasion. The most recent clash came in 2020, which saw Spurs win 4-1. Prior to that, they met in 2012 and 2013, both of which ended 3-1 to Tottenham.
Tottenham pre-season team news
For large parts of this summer, Spurs hardly showed any movement in the transfer market, much to fans’ frustration. But when things got going, they went big. Around £115 million was spent within 24 hours. First on Mohammed Kudus, and then on Morgan Gibbs-White, though the latter is up in the air due to a legal battle.
There were also arrivals in the form of Kota Takai, plus contract extensions for Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso. Meanwhile, loanees Ashley Phillips, Luka Vuskovic, Alfie Devine, Yang Min Hyeok, Manor Solomon, Dane Scarlett, Will Lankshear, and Bryan Gil have all returned to Hotspur Way.
As for injuries, Spurs were short on midfield options in May due to the absences of James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall, and Dejan Kulusevski. Other absentees included Radu Dragusin, who tore his ACL earlier last season.
While we are yet to hear from Thomas Frank’s first press conference as Spurs boss, we understand that, apart from Bergvall, everyone has resumed training.
Predicted Tottenham line-up
Vicario, Porro, Phillips, Davies, Spence, Sarr, Bissouma, Bentancur, Tel, Solanke, Johnson
Predicted starting XIs for friendlies hardly ever go right. Everyone, barring the injured, will likely be involved for at least some part of the game. The reason is that Thomas Frank will need to make decisions regarding the youngsters, potential exits, and returning loanees.
We’re also not sure what formation Frank will favour, so we’ve gone with the traditional 4-3-3. One he often favoured during his Brentford days.
Our prediction
There will be a lot of experimentation with formations, transitions, combinations of players, and tactics. And for someone like Thomas Frank, who’s known for being a very versatile coach, having so many options will help him take it to a whole new level. Regardless, it should be a comfortable win for Spurs.
Watch out for Mikey Moore and the other youngsters, as friendlies are a great opportunity to impress. It goes without saying, but also keep an eye on Mohammed Kudus, who already looks every bit the Spurs player.