Thomas Frank says it is unfair to compare Spurs with Manchester United because of Champions League commitments

'We're not on same page' - Thomas Frank says it is unfair to compare Spurs with Manchester United because of Champions League commitments

Thomas Frank has played down comparisons between Tottenham and this weekend’s opponents Manchester United, arguing that the vastly different circumstances surrounding the two clubs render any direct parallels misleading. Spurs travel to Old Trafford for Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, with a 12-point gap separating them from United in the Premier League table.

Thomas Frank believes it is unfair to compare Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United because his side have been contending with UEFA Champions League football, with the head coach saying: "Let's judge when we're on the same page."

Spurs travel to Old Trafford for Saturday's lunchtime kick-off, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, trailing United by 12 points in the Premier League table. Yet Frank believes the gap tells only part of the story.

The two sides last met in early November with Ruben Amorim at the helm of The Red Devils, and a late Matthijs de Ligt header earned United a dramatic point at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

That match proved emblematic of both campaigns, with neither team able to protect a lead. Since then, however, their paths have diverged sharply. Amorim has been removed by United’s hierarchy, while Tottenham have continued to place their faith in Frank despite mounting frustration among sections of the fanbase.

Frank's appointment last summer, following Ange Postecoglou's departure, was initially welcomed. But with Spurs currently languishing in 14th place, progress has been limited.

Aside from qualification for the Champions League round of 16, there have been few tangible signs of advancement since the club ended a 17-year wait for silverware by defeating United in last season’s Europa League final in Bilbao.

Asked whether the two clubs have moved in opposite directions over the past nine months, Frank pointed to continental commitments as a decisive factor.

"It's a nice context to say Manchester United don't play European football," he said in his pre-match press conference. "That's a challenge. Let's judge [the two clubs] when we're on the same page."

Tottenham enter the weekend closer to the relegation zone than European places, meaning a repeat of the emphatic 3-0 victory masterminded by Postecoglou at Old Trafford in September 2024 would provide welcome relief for their current head coach.

United, by contrast, arrive in a buoyant mood. Benefiting from a full week of training and a settled schedule, Michael Carrick has overseen three league victories in a row - matching the number of consecutive wins his predecessor managed across 14 months - to lift the club into fourth place.

Carrick's side sit one point ahead of Chelsea in fifth and two clear of Liverpool in sixth as the race for Champions League qualification intensifies.

Frank believes Carrick has already had a noticeable impact at a club he once represented as a player.

"He's had a great start, he's injected a level of energy into the team," Frank said. "It looks like some of the players are in a good place.

"We know the threats from before from Bryan Mbeumo, Amad, [Matheus] Cunha and [Bruno] Fernandes has been keeping this team ticking, he's done it for four and five years. It's a challenge, but looking forward to it."

Frank: Romero post has been dealt with internally

Tottenham head north with renewed confidence after a spirited second-half comeback against Manchester City last Sunday, recovering from a two-goal deficit to secure a point at home.

That performance was followed by pointed criticism from captain Cristian Romero, who voiced his frustration at January’s modest transfer activity.

The Argentina centre-back described the lack of squad depth as "disgraceful," claiming Spurs had "only 11 players available" for the City match.

It was the second public outburst from Romero in recent weeks, having previously accused the club’s hierarchy of "lies" in a social media post swiftly deleted after a 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth.

Frank addressed the latest comments on Thursday, conceding it was not an approach he would endorse, while stressing repeatedly that the matter had been resolved behind closed doors.

"It's the beauty of written text, you can read a lot into it," Frank said. "And nobody really knows except Cuti or the guys who have spoken to him. Everything is dealt with internally.

"It shows that Cuti is extremely passionate. He wants to win, do everything he can with his team-mates to achieve great things. You need to ask him next time you speak to him.

"If you want to know what he meant, you have to ask him. That's the right way to take that question.

"Cuti is a very passionate character and player, who will want to leave everything on the pitch. He's very ambitious and wants to win every single time. Sometimes when you are like that, it can become an outburst. It is something we have of course dealt with, and dealt with internally.

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"There's a lot of ways of doing things. Cuti has been very good for us this season and in the past seasons. That's very important to be aware of.

"I wouldn't have done it. That's my message."

Frank confirmed Romero had not been disciplined for his earlier post in January, though he declined to say whether any sanction had been imposed this time.

When asked whether Romero’s comments had been met with support from disgruntled fans - following a transfer window that saw Brennan Johnson sold to Crystal Palace for £35 million and only Conor Gallagher arrive from Atletico Madrid alongside 19-year-old left-back Souza - Frank questioned the significance of social media reaction.

"First and foremost, we don't know what a like means," he said. "There are so many words in the post: does that like [act as a reaction to]: 'Well done guys, you did amazingly when I had to go off at half-time]. If that's the like, then perfect.

"Social media, I can't get rid of it. It's what some people call the future, or whatever it is. One thing I do know: we all definitely put too much attention to social media. All of us. It seems like everything is written on social media is the truth.

"Everything we take: that's the truth. That's a challenge in general, overall. That's the way it is. We deal with it."

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