Tottenham have been told they need to properly address the fall out from the apparent disagreement between Thomas Frank and Djed Spence.
The pair appeared to have an issue as the players left the pitch on Saturday evening after Chelsea had beaten Tottenham 1-0 in an anaemic Spurs performance.
Xavi Simons was singled out for criticism for Tottenham, but it was right-back Spence and centre-back Micky van de Ven who were heading for the tunnel looking dejected when the manager passed them heading onto the pitch.
Words appeared to be exchanged and while the players kept walking Frank turned and glared in their direction for a prolonged period.
Asked about it in a press conference afterwards the Dane played down suggestions of any problems but Gary Neville believes that isn’t sufficient and a further statement needs to be issued on the matter.
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Micky van de Ven not involved claims Gary Neville
Speaking on NBC Sports on Sunday he said: “I don’t think it is a big problem. Van de Ven has got dragged into this because he’s near Spence. I think if we just look at it one more time the debate, or conversation, looks to be between Thomas Frank and Djed Spence.
“Thomas Frank, I think, has said something to Djed Spence and he’s reacted by throwing his arms around. Just look at Van de Ven, I don’t think he’s involved in this. Look at what Djed Spence does there.
“Has something happened late on in the game? I think back to when we played, sometimes when the manager says something to a player late on in a match, sometimes if the manager has said, ‘go over and clap the fans’, a simple thing, and he’s gone, ‘I’ve already clapped them’, it can be that type of thing.
“But they’re going to have to come out with a story because this is gaining some traction, they’re going to have to come out with a co-ordinated story quite quickly. It doesn’t look great.”
Post-Chelsea spat may be overblown
If Tottenham get back to winning ways quickly and start to put together a run this episode will quickly be forgotten.
But as a footnote to an alarmingly weak display at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium against one of the club’s biggest local rivals it won’t help instil confidence in supporters.
Frank’s lingering glare suggested it was something to be looked at as much as anything, but he played it all down after the game and will need to address it behind the scenes even if nothing else does come out.
Ending the weekend in fifth, above Chelsea, shows there is no need to overreact yet, but there are growing causes for concern over the inconsistent form.