Djed Spence was visibly unhappy after being brought off by Thomas Frank in Spurs' 3-0 loss away to Nottingham Forest, the second time that he's shown dissent towards his manager this season
Thomas Frank will speak to Djed Spence after the Tottenham star reacted angrily to being substituted during Sunday's 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest. Spurs were thrashed at the City Ground to leave them with a record of just one win from their last nine Premier League games.
In November, 25-year-old Spence and team-mate Micky van de Ven were seen walking past Frank following their 1-0 loss at home to Chelsea, later apologising to their boss. Now the Tottenham full-back has found himself being accused of disrespecting Frank again.
After his number came up in the 59th minute, Spence was seen gesturing and shaking his head. Frank didn't see the moment but will speak to the England international.
"I didn't see it," the Spurs manager said post-match. "Of course I will look back to be aware of it. I think there can be three reasons.
"He can be disappointed with his own performance, the team's performance, he can be disappointed with being subbed off. I'll ask him about that."
Frank insists that he's the right man to turn Tottenham around, having only been in charge six months. Spurs are languishing 11th in the Premier League table approaching the halfway stage and they're already out of the Carabao Cup.
In the Champions League, however, one win from their final two league phase games will book them a place in the last 16. A calamitous first-half goal set the tone for Sunday's loss to Forest before Sean Dyche's side made it a rout.
"I think it's pretty evident that if no one gets the time, no one can turn this around," Frank said. "This is not a quick fix. Today was a very bad performance.
"No two ways about that, but also know that to change this, this will take some time. No one will want to hear about that, it's just reality."
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Frank didn't want to lay the blame on Guglielmo Vicario for the Tottenham goalkeeper's role in the opening goal. "No… I think you see that every week in the Premier League and from every team all over the world," the former Brentford boss explained.
"So there's no problem with that. Mistakes like that happen. When things are going against us we need to keep doing the right thing and keep our cool heads."
Spurs host Liverpool on Saturday in their final home game of 2025.