Thomas Frank has spoken about the direction Tottenham Hotspur are taking on and off the pitch as the club gears up to take on Arsenal in the north London derby
Everything you need to know about Thomas Frank's Arsenal pre-match press conference
Owner ambition & backing: Tottenham coach Thomas Frank is optimistic about the club's future direction under the current Lewis family ownership structure. He confidently believes the owners are committed for the long term and will provide the financial backing necessary to build a successful team.
Ownership structure change: The Lewis family, specifically siblings Vivienne and Charles Lewis and the former's son-in-law Nick Beucher, have taken a more prominent role. This new group is now actively supporting the club and CEO Vinai Venkatesham, following the exit of long-time chairman Daniel Levy.
Investment details: The Lewis family has already demonstrated their commitment by injecting a substantial £100 million into the club's finances. Further financial support is anticipated to help Spurs close the gap with the biggest-spending clubs at the top of the league.
The £100m transfer question: While confident in the owner’s ambition, Frank suggested that Tottenham signing a single £100 million player remains unlikely in the immediate future, following comments previously made by Ange Postecoglou. He expressed certainty that such a massive investment will happen someday, but stressed that the club is not close to that level of spending right now.
Player development philosophy: Frank emphasised that long-term success requires a balance of time, process, and smart investment, not just large-scale purchases. He advocated for the importance of developing existing players effectively, citing Liverpool and Manchester City as examples of clubs that didn't solely rely on signing the most expensive talent.
North London Derby: Those comments were made in the context of the club preparing to face their fierce rivals, Arsenal, who currently sit at the top of the league table. Frank added a touch of humour by jokingly referring to former Brentford stars David Raya and Christian Norgaard, now playing for Arsenal, as "traitors."
Significant Injury boost: Thomas Frank delivered positive news regarding the squad's availability just ahead of the Super Sunday clash. Crucially, eight of the club's 12 previously unavailable players are back in contention, including Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Bergvall, and Randal Kolo Muani.
Set-Piece focus: Frank also addressed the tactical battle that will take place on Sunday, with both teams showing a heavy focus on the effectiveness of set pieces. Frank noted that the increased, league-wide emphasis on this phase of play, including long throws, may have been inspired by his coaching work at Brentford.