Thomas Frank has confirmed his UEFA Champions League squad, and while Tottenham fans were expecting a few surprises, the omission of some high-profile names has sparked plenty of debate.
Tottenham Hotspur’s new manager, Thomas Frank has now registered his squad for the UEFA Champions League league phase, with a few notable names missing out on the list.
Six players have been excluded from the competition at this stage, with Mathys Tel, Kota Takai, Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Yves Bissouma and Radu Dragusin all absent as Spurs prepare for their return to Europe’s biggest stage.
For Frank, this season represents his very first taste of managing in the Champions League, a test that carries significant weight as he looks to guide Tottenham through their group.
Tottenham fans react to Thomas Frank’s UCL squad
The news of Tottenham’s squad list quickly spread across social media platform X, where supporters wasted little time in voicing their opinions on the exclusions.
One fan suggested that the calls made were largely expected, writing: “People will moan whatever happens but basically it is three injured players, someone being transferred, someone not ready for the first team and then Tel. I would have been tempted to drop Gray instead of Tel/Odobert but it is what it is.”
Another Tottenham supporter highlighted the decision to leave out Tel in particular, remarking: “Tel instead of Kinsky is bound to start some drama,” while a different fan added: “Which is why I do not understand why we signed Tel in the first place.”
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Others were more critical of the club’s handling of the Frenchman, with one fan posting: “Tel is going to get sold at the end of the season I think. I do not want him to go, but I cannot see how he can be happy with this. Tottenham made his deal permanent, and then proceeded to sign players that push him down the pecking order. Before any moronic idiots jump on the hate, no, Tel is not s**t. He is a very good player and everyone forgets he is a young boy, only 20. Just hope he sees past this.”
More comments followed, with one supporter noting: “To be fair there was not really anyone else we could leave out than Tel,” while another was frustrated: “Why are we leaving Mathys Tel out, terrible planning.”
The questions continued: “I understand the other five but why Tel?” while one final fan summed up the frustration: “We spent £30m (€35m) on a guy to leave him out of the UCL phase. Huh?”
Mathys Tel must keep his head down
Frank’s Champions League squad was always going to divide opinion, because a difficult call had to be made somewhere in the selection.
Mathys Tel has been the one to miss out, and with his confidence looking fragile in recent weeks, the manager’s decision to leave him out feels far more significant than the omissions of the other five players, which were more straightforward to explain.
The French forward endured a frustrating UEFA Super Cup final when he missed from the spot, and he has not fully settled in a Tottenham shirt since his initial loan spell last January.
He now faces the task of putting his head down and working his way back, with the left wing spot still open for him to claim if he can take his chances when they come.