The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium erupted into a chorus of boos when Thomas Frank decided to take off Xavi Simons during Saturday afternoon's clash against Manchester United. Mathys Tel replaced the 22-year-old attacking midfielder, whom the Lilywhites signed from RB Leipzig for £51.8m in the summer, in the final minutes of the match.
Shortly after replacing Simons, the 20-year-old striker then grabbed an equaliser. With his back to goal, Tel latched on to a cross from Destiny Udogie, peeled off Matthijs de Ligt, and smashed the ball past Senne Lammens.
Spurs pushed for a winner and, in the opening moments of stoppage time, Richarlison put Spurs ahead with a glancing header. The 28-year-old deflected a curled strike from Wilson Odobert, leaving the United goalkeeper rooted to the spot.
Richarlison wheeled away in celebration, and Frank looked as though he'd had the last laugh. But, in the dying embers, De Ligt redeemed himself with a brilliant header at the back post to salvage a point for the Reds.
While the Tottenham manager was subject to a smattering of boos throughout the game, he was spared by the home supporters at full-time. Frank reinvigorated his line-up with the substitution, having failed to test Lammens earlier in the match.
Speaking with reporters at Hotspur Way on Friday, the Dane leapt to the defence of Simons, who's struggled to impress since arriving in the Premier League. Frank said: "I think every player needs confidence. Every player does that. The best in the world, everyone.
"Some, when you go to a new club, I think it's a little bit more evident that it's not that easy just to hit the ground running, but the more confidence you get, the better you play, the more you play, the more relationships you find out to get with your teammates step by step.
"I agree, I think Xavi had a good performance. I think it was positive with a lot of bits. I still think it was a good step. I still think there's a lot of layers to be added to his game, but I was happy with his performance."
Frank also addressed his side's poor form at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Lilywhites have only won one of their six home games in the Premier League this season.
"It’s a big shirt to wear in many ways," went on the Dane. "It should be proud. It should be something you're really excited about, wearing this beautiful shirt, playing home and away.
"It shouldn't matter to play home. It should be a massive boost when we play at home. We should feel even more confident, even more aligned, even more willing to do everything.
"I understand that the stats are not too good over a long time. For me, now there's a new opportunity and a new opportunity we need to embrace in the best possible way - coming out there against a great Man Utd team that's in great form, it'll be a great game, and we'll do everything we can to get out on top."