Thomas Frank has wasted no time making bold calls ahead of Tottenham’s Champions League campaign, with several high-profile names set to miss out on the club’s squad list.
One thing has been on the minds of many Tottenham Hotspur supporters ahead of their long-awaited return to the UEFA Champions League, and that has been the issue of squad registration.
Tottenham do not have the required number of club-trained players to meet UEFA rules, which means a handful of big names were always expected to miss out once the squad was finalised.
The Champions League draw has already been made, and Spurs are now fully aware of their eight different opponents in the new League phase, with Frank’s first taste of UCL football coming at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium against Villarreal.
Thomas Frank makes UCL squad call for Tottenham
Thomas Frank has now submitted his UEFA Champions League squad and, according to the list published on UEFA’s official website, the Dane has made some major calls by leaving out six players.
As things stand, Yves Bissouma, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Kota Takai, Mathys Tel and Radu Dragusin have all been omitted from Tottenham’s Champions League group.
Meanwhile, new signings Mohammed Kudus, Joao Palhinha, Xavi Simons and Kolo Muani have all been included, as Spurs look to make a statement on their return to Europe’s premier competition after a two-year absence.
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Tottenham omissions raise big questions
The decision to leave out James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski is understandable, with both midfielders battling long-term injuries.
Kulusevski is expected to return between December and January, but by then the League phase will be drawing to a close, while Maddison may not play at all this season as he continues his recovery from an ACL injury.
Yves Bissouma’s exclusion feels more telling, as it could well spell the end of his Spurs career, with a transfer remaining possible for Bissouma with transfer windows elsewhere still open.