Thomas Frank addresses sack talk and asks for Tottenham patience

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Thomas Frank isn't losing sleep over Tottenham's struggles because he's encountered similar situations throughout his managerial journey. The Dane's spell in north London has yet to ignite, with Spurs languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table at Christmas and supporters growing increasingly frustrated with the team's lack of creativity and defensive frailties.

Last weekend's 2-1 defeat to Liverpool, where Tottenham ended with nine players following red cards for Xavi Simons and skipper Cristian Romero, marked five losses from Frank's last eight league matches. However, Frank has a track record of sluggish beginnings at both Brentford and Brondby, so he isn't tossing and turning over Spurs' current predicament, although he acknowledges spending considerable time pondering their situation.

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"The good thing is I've always been a good sleeper, so I think that's helpful!" he said. "But of course you can feel that the thoughts are just underneath you. Sometimes we've all experienced that with work.

"They've been there a long time because there's a lot of things to sort out. We want to be successful, we want to be consistent. There's all small different bits we'd like to improve. It's completely open and transparent.

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"I think it's also clear that we are searching to find a very consistent, competitive team week in, week out. When you get small setbacks and don't get the right response you try something new or you stick to it."

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The 52-year-old continued: "It's normal. It's not the first time in my career I haven't found the team instantly clicks but it's coming over time. I know it will come, probably sooner rather than later."

Frank achieved success at both his previous clubs, notably guiding Brentford to the top flight and enabling them to compete beyond expectations as an established Premier League side. These are the experiences he will lean on to navigate his current challenges in north London.

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"At Brondby I didn't win the first eight games and then we were unbeaten in nine," he added. "At Brentford, we lost eight out of 10 games and then were unbeaten in 10. So I am convinced we will see a similar pattern here. Im not in doubt about that, because I know how to make a competitive team.

"We will make a very competitive team here as well. I'm in no doubt of that. To make it even more complex here is the amount of games we are playing, with rotation and physical load and mental load that just impact a team and especially if it's not used to doing that week in, week out."

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Whilst Tottenham broke their 17-year silverware drought by claiming the Europa League in May under Ange Postecoglou, losses became a familiar theme in the league as the club slumped to 17th place with a weakened squad, whilst the Australian prioritised European glory.

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With a string of losses this season, particularly at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Frank acknowledges that losing can become as habitual as winning.

"I definitely think there are habits that can go both ways," Frank confessed. "There are good habits and bad habits, and, of course winning is a good habit and losing is a bad habit, but underneath that is the habit of every staff member, every player.

"How you react when there are setbacks in games is something we are really working very, very hard on. That's something I also think we have dealt ok with. For example, the Brighton away game maybe the year before we would have lost, but we came back and got a 2-2 draw. That was a good example as was Bodo away.

"So there are bits that are going the right way, but we are not consistent enough to do that every third or fourth day. No matter how much I hate saying it, that's an ongoing thing we need to work on. Small bits and good habits for every player."

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