Tottenham are reportedly urging UEFA to increase Champions League squad limits after Thomas Frank was compelled to exclude Mathys Tel. The £30million summer signing was left out of the squad before the 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund to accommodate Dominic Solanke's return from injury.
He will also be absent from their final league-phase fixture against Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany on Wednesday night (8pm). Tel was initially excluded from their Champions League squad in September owing to insufficient homegrown players, preventing Frank from completing a 25-man roster. A rule modification in December enabled his return following Solanke's injury.
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Nevertheless, with Solanke now recovered, Tel has been dropped once again as Frank can only select one of them for Spurs' remaining two league-phase matches.
According to City AM, Spurs sporting director Johan Lange has reportedly raised the matter with UEFA and other Premier League clubs in an attempt to garner additional support.
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Arsenal and Chelsea are understood to have been the 'most receptive' thus far. However, certain European rivals are said to resist the proposal, concerned it would further enhance the advantage provided by England's financial strength.
Addressing the situation, Frank previously stated: "Of course, it's very tough for Mathys. Just to make it clear, as I understand, my challenge was it could only be him or Dom. I couldn't sub another player out. If so, I would have done it. Mathys has done well for us in many, many ways.
"It was him or Dom, and I chose Dom because, as I said, experience. He did, luckily, very well. But that's not the same as [saying] I don't like Mathys at all, he's started four of the last five. That's a clear signal that I also trust him and believe that he can do something good for the team and the club."
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Victory over Frankfurt would secure Spurs' progression to the last 16, at which point Frank would be entitled to makeup to three squad alterations before the 5 February deadline, although he must still adhere to the 25-man A-list cap for players born prior to 2004.