Thomas Frank has reflected on the performance of Tottenham in the Champions League.
Despite the side’s struggles in the Premier League, the continental competition has been their relief. Spurs now sit in fifth place in the league phase of the European competition, and they can ensure automatic qualification for the Round of 16 if they defeat Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday.
“I'm very happy that the team and the Club we are in a position where, with a win tomorrow, we can finish top eight in the best club tournament in the world, and it's super, super competitive, as we know. So that we are very, very pleased with. Those results and some of those performances are also what we need to take going forward, of course, and build on that.
“Again, it's me, it's my job to look a little bit in the bigger perspective. You know, even that we haven't won as much as we want, it's very, very few things that need to go our way. You know, the small margins - keep doing the right thing, keep improving things you want to do, and getting quality players back, such as Dominic Solanke as I’ve talked about before.
“The mental and the physical load on players to produce every third and fourth game is very big. It's so big and it's more difficult to do that. And, of course, the bigger the competition, from Conference League to Europa League to Champions League, it's just better teams.
“That means you need to give more and that you need to have players in a squad that is, I would not say used to it but are learning over time to go out and produce no matter what. That's a big thing.
“We've studied [Eintracht Frankfurt] closely. They may not be in their best form, but it's a team, I think, done fantastic in the league last year. I still think they have done some fantastic results and played fantastic games this season. Recently, they just played 3-3 with Borussia Dortmund.
“They have very good players, and they have a clear identity in what they want to do. I expect a very difficult game, where they will come in a man-man pressure tomorrow. I think they are very good in the transitions. I expect a difficult game. I know they are in pain.
“They don't have anything to play for, but sometimes you can play free. I've been in this game long enough that usually you don't know what you're going to face [on Wednesday]. It, of course, needs to be thoughts on us, with big respect for Frankfurt. We know all their strengths, no doubt about that.”