Thomas Frank has reflected on a difficult domestic run at Tottenham, admitting he is aware of supporter frustration and chants calling for his dismissal, while insisting he never feared for his job after the defeat to West Ham.
It has certainly been a topsy-turvy last seven months for Thomas Frank in the Tottenham Hotspur dugout.
The Dane has had to deal with injuries to several key players and has also endured struggles on the pitch, with results faltering for long periods.
Spurs currently sit 14th in the Premier League table and are just eight points above the relegation zone, running the risk of slipping further given a difficult run of fixtures in February.
That domestic form, however, has not affected Frank’s European campaign, with the Dane guiding Tottenham to the Champions League last 16 after securing a top-four finish in the league phase in his debut season.
Tottenham pressure and sack chants addressed by Thomas Frank
The poor run of results has seen Frank receive criticism from sections of the Tottenham support, with calls for his sacking growing louder in recent weeks.
Despite that outside noise, Frank has remained calm, repeatedly insisting that he retains the backing of the board and the club hierarchy.
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Speaking to Sky Sports after Tottenham’s Champions League qualification, Frank was asked about the reaction following defeats to West Ham and Burnley, and whether European progress could quieten the criticism.
Addressing the pressure that comes with the role, he said, “I think when you are in a big club like Tottenham, with huge ambitions and a fantastic, massive fan base, and you are not where you want to be, there will always be noise. That I expect, and it should be noise.
“What I know is that we will get there in the end, and we will pull through this. Then we will be in a better place, and then there will be less noise.”
He was also asked whether he could have foreseen a Champions League top-four finish alongside a 14th-place Premier League position. Reflecting on the campaign as a whole, Frank added:
“That definitely would not have been my guess or prediction, if I look back at it. I knew this season would be a transitional season. I knew that we had big ambitions. We really want to do well.
“We all know where we want to get to. But where the club and the teams come from to where we want to go, I knew there would be a transition. There would be ups and downs. I fully expected us to be higher. The ambition is to be higher in the Premier League table, have done even better.
“That is the disappointment. That is what we are working hard on. I think we look more consistent, more competitive, especially the last 10 games. Before, there was a bit of up and down, but it looks the right direction. The last three games, definitely, we are going there, and that is what we need to keep doing.”
Spurs supporters and momentum in focus
Frank was also asked about the message to supporters who have grown tired of explanations and want change in the dugout.
Speaking about his relationship with the fanbase and Tottenham’s long-term direction, he said: “First and foremost, we are here for the supporters. I am here. The players want the supporters to be happy and proud of the team.
“I am working very hard to make sure they will be proud of the team. There have still been magic moments this season and good performances, and over time I am not in doubt that we will get where we will. I am very aware of where we need to go, and very aware of what we need to work on.
“We are completely aligned, the leadership in this club, on what we need to do and where we want to go. Then we just need a little bit of momentum, a little bit of margins with us, and we will get there.”
He was also asked about the reaction from the travelling support following Wednesday’s win in Frankfurt, when around 3,500 Spurs fans applauded the team at full-time.
On how quickly results can shift sentiment, Frank added: “That is the beauty of football. A couple of wins, a couple of good performances, then everyone is a little bit happier because we all want the same. We want success for Spurs. We want success for this fantastic football club. That was a nice feeling, to see the happy faces on the fans,”