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Welcome to Tottenham Hotspur, Thomas Frank.

The first real stinker of the Frank era is officially in the books as Spurs were beaten by Bournemouth on Saturday, in a performance that looked terribly reminiscent of last season’s Premier League form.

SPURS 0-1 BOURNEMOUTH — Video highlights & recap

Evanilson scored after five minutes and Spurs didn’t have their first shot of the game until the 55th minute (first shot on target in the 68th). Bournemouth did just about whatever they wanted and out-shot Spurs 19-4. Frank would have been fuming at halftime, but whatever he said at halftime made very little different in the final 45 minutes

Below is the latest Thomas Frank reaction, speaking after Tottenham Hotspur hardly even turned up to play Bournemouth.

Thomas Frank reaction: What did Spurs boss say after loss to Bournemouth?

“I agree it was not a top performance. I think we played against a very good Bournemouth team that did very well in what they’re good at — played to their strength and we didn’t handle it well enough. Bournemouth deserved to win, of course we can’t be satisfied with that. We need to look into what we can improve.”

…

On Antonio Semenyo not being shown a second yellow: “I probably would have been disappointed if I got that second yellow on one of my players, if I’m honest.”

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“I think we showed three great performances [to start the season] and the players showed a lot of heart and effort — can’t blame them for that — but today the level of football, the touch, the pass wasn’t there unfortunately.”

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On Xavi Simons signing for Spurs: “Very excited about it. That will definitely be a positive, no doubt about that and look forward to him joining the team.”

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“Definitely not what I expected, I hoped for more. I think we played a good Bournemouth team that played exactly as I expected and we planned for, and we didn’t handle well enough. … I didn’t think we handled the balls in behind, or the second-ball game, very well. We struggled to create today for whatever reason, except for the last 15 minutes.”

Pep Guardiola was not a happy man as he watched his Manchester City side gift-wrap a win for Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

After starting well, City were undone on the counter and overplayed at the back. A familiar story in recent times.

Here is the latest Pep Guardiola reaction as Spurs, and Thomas Frank, once again got the better of him.

Pep Guardiola reaction

Overall thoughts on the game: “I had a feeling it was a little bit better than the result,” Guardiola told TNT Sports in the UK. “We start well. We concede a goal that could happen. The simple things, we miss the simple things with the ball. We lost with the quality we have, individually the simple things with the ball we miss it. That is why in transitions and of course they score the second at the end of the first half it was difficult. We need one goal and we had chances and the penalty is not given on Oscar [Bobb] and after the chance for Erling [Haaland] and Rayan [Cherki]. We had chances but we didn’t react well with the marking and the pressing. We knew it. Because Thomas [Frank] does it and it happens. We have to attract and play in different way to the way we play. The final third is really good. We control the transitions. The result is not good. It is a long, long way and we will learn from that.”

On lack of control after Spurs took the lead: “It happens sometimes against Spurs. They punish us always in that position in one action. But even with that, before the goal and after the goal, we slept and many times the simple things, passes we didn’t break. We didn’t make our build up because they were so narrow. We put the ball more outside and from there try to make the action. Many teams play high pressing and we have to read for that.”

On transfers: “We will see. We have one week with the club. We talk with the players, agents. We will see.”

On if his team made it hard for themselves: “When we talk about the second goal, obviously. We talk about that against high-pressing you have to attack differently in our build up. After we dropped we were quite good. I know the physicality they have. We were close in the transition. But we lose the simple things, a lot of ball we lost,” Guardiola told the BBC.

Pep Guardiola looks to keep the good times rolling at Manchester City and pour some cold water on Thomas Frank’s early Tottenham Hotspur career when two Big Six sides meet at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Man City walloped Wolves at the Molineux in Week 1 as Erling Haaland scored a pair of goals and Tijjani Reijnders looked a natural fit for Pep Guardiola’s system.

WATCH – Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs also had a great season-opening result, as Thomas Frank’s men clobbered Burnley 3-0 in North London.

Frank won at the Etihad Stadium with Brentford in 2022, but his record versus Guardiola isn’t spectacular aside from that. Frank’s teams are 2W-1D-5L versus City dating back to December 29, 2021, though they’ve never lost by more than two goals — a decent achievement against the City dynasty.

For live updates and highlights throughout Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur, check out PST’s live blog coverage below.

How to watch Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur live, stream link and start time

Kick off time: 7:30am ET Saturday

Venue: Etihad Stadium — Manchester

TV Channel: USA

Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com

Manchester City team news, focus

OUT: Mateo Kovacic (calf), Josko Gvardiol (knock), Savinho (undisclosed), Kalvin Phillips (achilles), Marcus Bettinelli (knock) | QUESTIONABLE: Rodri (groin), Phil Foden (ankle), Ederson (illness), Claudio Echeverri (ankle)

Tottenham Hotspur team news, focus

OUT: Manor Solomon (calf), Bryan Gil (knee), James Maddison (torn ACL - MORE), Dejan Kulusevski (knee), Destiny Udogie (knee), Radu Dragusin (knee), Kota Takai (foot) | QUESTIONABLE: Yves Bissouma (undisclosed)

Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur prediction

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly reached verbal agreement on a transfer fee to sign Crystal Palace’s star midfielder Eberechi Eze.

MORE — What did we learn from Frank’s debut? | Frank’s reaction after Burnley win

Eze has been in the headlines all summer, with Spurs, then Arsenal, and now Spurs again reportedly in negotiations with the player and/or club over a deal. In the end, he appears headed to Tottenham Hotspur for an initial fee in the neighborhood of $75 million plus potential add-ons. Considering Spurs were transparently set to pay $80 million for Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White earlier this summer, it became a no-brainer that new manager Thomas Frank’s side needed a new no. 10 when James Maddison tore his ACL in preseason.

Eze to Spurs a deal that had to be done

There simply are not that many footballers in the world who would make Tottenham Hotspur better, let alone immediately, and Eze is one that will. The club (and the chairman) are under incredible pressure to win now — not down the road, eventually, “when the long-term project we’re building is finished” — right now. Spurs are in the Champions League this year, and then what? Qualifying for next season’s Champions League is dependent upon their performance in the Premier League this season. Signing a proven PL star like Eze makes Spurs better right now, whatever the cost.

One area where Eze will immediately improve Spurs is on set pieces. With James Maddison out for the season, Thomas Frank was going to have to scheme and trick his way to being one of the best set-piece sides in the Premier League. Now he has one of the league’s top free-kick takers to tee up a squad full of large lads. Spurs could also do with adding a long-range shooting threat to the side, with Harry Kane and Heung-min Son, both of whom scored a fair few goals from way out, no longer around. Eze is a fantastic all-around attacker, but Spurs specifically need a set-piece and long-range specialist, and he just so happens to be one of the best at both.

Thomas Frank began his Tottenham Hotspur career with a 3-0 victory over Burnley on Saturday, as summer signing Mohammed Kudus found Richarlison for the first two goals and Brennan Johnson added the exclamation point for the former Brentford boss.

SPURS 3-0 BURNLEY — Video highlights & recap

Below is the latest Thomas Frank reaction, speaking after his Premier League debut as Spurs boss.

What did Thomas Frank say after beating Burnley in Spurs debut?

“Perfect start or dream start we all know we need to follow up on it. Today I will just enjoy it and I hope the players, the club and the fans enjoy it because that is important. I think overall it was a good performance, not through the roof. A good performance against a difficult opponent. It’s never easy in the Premier League we know that and after the very short turnaround against PSG. No complaints.

“If there are two days, three days, four days, one day [between games], I will make sure I do everything I can to get the team ready. But just a reminder that PSG are playing tomorrow night and we play today. I don’t know who decides that, but the ones who decide that maybe need to think a little bit about the players. But, big positive our medical department and performance department did a top job to make sure the players were ready to go. I think we had eight starters again, so that I am happy with.”

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“I’m very happy [with the midfield]. Pape [Matar Sarr] I have praised so much, so I will not say so much about him today. I will give the praise a little bit to others. Archie Gray did well, I think. Fine first half, really grew into it in the second half and as a reminder to myself and everyone else young players take a little bit of time. It can’t be we put them out there and suddenly they are exceptional. That demands incredible, incredible, incredible talents. Normal, very, very good talents, which I think Archie is and [Lucas] Bergvall is, that demands some time, so happy with his performance. Lucas overall was very good as well. Top actions from both players.”

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“It’s fair to say [Richarlison] hasn’t played in every game in the past three or four years so we need to be smart with him. There are various ways. It could be to come off in games after a certain amount of time, or come off the bench, or to play five games in a row.”

Tottenham Hotspur are off and running under Thomas Frank, who watched with glee as his new side brushed aside newly promoted Burnley to open the 2025-26 Premier League season on Saturday.

SPURS 3- BURNLEY — Video highlights & recap | Thomas Frank reaction

Frank was brought in to replace Ange Postecoglou this summer, just weeks after he delivered the club its first trophy in 17 years. It would have been an agonizing decision for chairman Daniel Levy to make, but the early returns have been positive as the club chases additional transfers to bolster the squad for the UEFA Champions League this season.

Mohammed Kudus hits the ground running

For the first time in a very long time, Spurs find themselves without a readily identifiable talisman — a current and future legend of the club around whom the side is built — and while that is certainly a scary proposition, that unknown factor should be a point of excitement for supporters as the club moves into a brand new era. That said, Mohammed Kudus is going to terrorize defenders this season, just as he did with a pair of assists on opening day. It was clear each of the last two seasons that Kudus was West Ham’s biggest game-changer, but also that he was asked to do far too much in a(n overly defensive) team that often played with just one or two attackers at a time. At Spurs, under Frank, he looked freer than he ever has and a constant threat down the right wing. Both Richarlison and Dominic Solanke are solid targets to ping crosses at, which adds another dimension to his game, accounting for both assists against Burnley.

Three center backs vs the big boys, two against everyone else

Against PSG, arguably the best club team in the world right now, it was Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Kevin Danso in a back-three with Pedro Porro and Djed Spence providing all the width from endline to endline (attacking with two, plus whatever support came from two defensive midfielders and Pape Matar Sarr). Against Burnley, a newly promoted side, it was the same personnel (minus Danso) in a back-four, meaning Mohammed Kudus and Brennan Johnson would provide the width in attack and link up Richarlison in the final third (plus loads of support from midfield, in the form of Lucas Bergvall and Sarr). This tracks with everything we said after the PSG game. Two very distinctive looks created by swapping a center back for a winger, and injecting a bit of attacking flair (and legs) in the midfield.

Pape Matar Sarr primed for a breakout season

Whether or not Spurs sign a no. 10 (Eberechi Eze) before the summer transfer window closes, Sarr is going to have a massive part to play this season. He’ll likely be the go-to option in the above “big boys” scenario, when Frank prioritizes defensive solidity and work rate over creativity and ingenuity. The 22-year-old already has 4,200 Premier League minutes under his belt and played just about every midfield role under the sun when Ange Postecoglou was in charge. And that makes Sarr the prototypical midfielder for Frank, who drills the tactical side of the game into his players like nobody’s business but still asks them to get forward at any opportunity and make up the numbers in attack. Sarr was fantastic against PSG and was again a huge influence against Burnley, picking up an assist to start his 2025-26 campaign.

The latest transfer news surrounding Eberechi Eze is very promising for Tottenham Hotspur fans, while a possible move for Savinho to Spurs is heating up too.

According to multiple reports from Fabrizio Romano, David Ornstein and Sacha Tavolieri, Eze has told Palace he wants to move to Spurs and he has already agreed personal terms, while he is not expected to play for Palace against Chelsea on Sunday. Per the report from Ornstein, Palace have already reached out to Leicester City about signing Moroccan winger Bilal El Khannous as Eze’s replacement.

While Romano also revealed that Spurs remain in talks with Manchester City over signing Brazilian winger Savinho too, as Pep Guardiola has said Savinho is injured for the next few weeks but the City winger posted a photo of himself in the gym to further stir the speculation pot.

It has been reported that Eze could sign for Spurs for close to $90 million, while City want over $81 million for Savinho but Spurs have offered far less. So far.

Eze and Savinho a huge upgrade for Spurs

After already signing Mohammed Kudus this summer, Spurs have a clear recruitment strategy: buy players who are tricky, direct and full of creativity.

Thomas Frank’s side were organized for the majority of their Super Cup final defeat on penalties to PSG in midweek, and the only real issue was creating chances from open play and looking dangerous on the break.

If Eze and Savinho arrive, that problem would be solved. Both suit Frank’s style extremely well and if Spurs have the money to make this happen it makes them serious contenders to challenge for a top four finish in the Premier League.

The Thomas Frank era officially begins on Saturday (10 am ET), when Tottenham Hotspur host newly promoted Burnley to kick of the 2025-26 Premier League season.

WATCH — Tottenham Hotspur vs Burnley

Frank replaced Ange Postecoglou as Spurs manager this summer — just weeks after the Aussie delivered the club its first trophy since 2008 — and Tottenham Hotspur legend Heung-min Son decided it was time for him to move on as well, so say it’s been a summer of change and transition would be a massive understatement. Cristian Romero has replaced Son as captain and everyone else is back from last season’s Europa League-winning team, with the noted addition of Mohammed Kudus ($74 million, from West Ham) in Son’s place. James Maddison (torn ACL) and Dejan Kulusevski (knee) are both missing in central midfield, where Frank’s options are limited to ball-winners and all-action types. Spurs will be a dangerous counter-attacking and set-piece side this year, if their goals against PSG in the UEFA Super Cup are any indication, and that raises the floor for last season’s 17th-place finishers but lowers their ceiling at the same time.

Burnley have been plenty busy themselves this summer, preparing for life in the top tier once again. A dozen players have already been signed with transfer fees attached,and it’s a baker’s dozen if you include Axel Tuanzebe, who signed as a free agent from recently relegated Ipswich Town. Scott Parker’s Clarets were promoted back to the Premier League (again) after finishing 2nd last season, their first back in the Championship (again). It marked the 4th straight season that Burnley have either been promoted or relegated, as they yo-yo back and forth, clearly too good for the second tier but also miles off the pace the last time they were in the top flight (24 points from 38 games, relegated by 8 points).

For live updates and highlights throughout Tottenham Hotspur vs Burnley, check out PST’s live blog coverage below.

How to watch Tottenham Hotspur vs Burnley live, stream link and start time

Kick off time: 10 am ET, Saturday

Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

TV Channel: Peacock

Streaming: Stream live on Peacock

Tottenham Hotspur team news, focus

OUT: James Maddison (torn ACL - MORE), Dejan Kulusevski (knee), Destiny Udogie (knee), Radu Dragusin (knee), Yves Bissouma (disciplinary), Kota Takai (foot)

Burnley team news, focus

OUT: Zeki Amdouni (knee), Jordan Beyer (knee), Bashir Humphreys (thigh), Manuel Benson (achilles) | QUESTIONABLE: Martin Dubravka (shoulder), Connor Roberts (undisclosed), Zian Flemming (fitness)

Tottenham Hotspur vs Burnley prediction

After not winning a trophy for 17 years, Tottenham Hotspur have a chance to lift their second piece of silverware in three months on Wednesday when they face PSG in the UEFA Super Cup in Udine, Italy.

For live updates and highlights throughout the UEFA Super Cup, check out PST’s live blog coverage below.

How to watch PSG vs Tottenham Hotspur live, stream link and start time

Kick off time: 3 pm ET Wednesday (August 13)

Venue: Stadio Friuli — Udine, Italy

TV Channel/Streaming: Paramount+

PSG team news, focus

PSG have only made two signings so far this summer, but they cost a combined $120 million in transfer fees so you should expect they have acquired some real quality in Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier ($46 million) and center back Illia Zabarnyi ($74 million) from Bournemouth. Chevalier has been brought in just as Champions League hero Gianiluigi Donnarumma looks set to leave the club and likely to land in Manchester. Chevalier is expected to start against Spurs with a virtually unchanged team in front of him.

OUT: Senny Mayulu (thigh)

Tottenham Hotspur team news, focus

Things are looking far less familiar for Tottenham Hotspur, where there is a new manager (Thomas Frank) a new $74-million man (Mohammed Kudus), and another legend of the club has departed (Son Heung-min). There are also a number of injuries (quite familiar, sadly) making matters more difficult for Frank right out of the starting gate. James Maddison is out for most, if not all, of the season after tearing his ACL in preseason; Dejan Kulusevski is still recovering from his patella (knee) fracture back in May; Dominic Solanke hasn’t appeared in a preseason game since July 19; and the same since July 26 for Destiny Udogie. Who will provide the creativity? It certainly won’t be Yves Bissouma, who was dropped by Frank for being late on a number of occasions this summer, according to the manager.

OUT: James Maddison (torn ACL), Dejan Kulusevski (knee), Dominic Solanke (ankle), Destiny Udogie (hamstring)

PSG vs Tottenham Hotspur prediction

Heung-min Son was given a guard of honor by both Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United players as he played what is expected to be his final minutes as a Spurs player.

An emotional Son, 33, announced on Saturday that he is set to leave Spurs this summer after a decade with the north London club. It has been widely reported that he will join LAFC in Major League Soccer.

The friendly in Seoul, South Korea finished 1-1 on Sunday with Brennan Johnson’s early goal putting Spurs ahead — he of course hit Son’s signature celebration — but Newcastle equalized before the break through Harvey Barnes in front of almost 65,000 fans at Seoul World Cup Stadium.

However, Son’s farewell game ended on a sour note as his close friend James Maddison was stretchered off the pitch late on as the Spurs playmaker looked to have suffered a serious injury.

Son gets standing ovation, guard of honor in Seoul, South Korea

In his native South Korea on Sunday, Son started Spurs’ friendly against Newcastle and was substituted in the second half.

When that happened the players from both Spurs and Newcastle gave him a guard of honor off the pitch while the entire stadium rose to its feet to applaud Son.

He was then mobbed by players and coaching staff on the sidelines too as one of the most popular players in Premier League history, no matter who you support, received a fitting farewell as a Spurs player.

Son’s legendary status at Spurs is confirmed after he captained them to the UEFA Europa League trophy last season, their first trophy in 17 years and first European trophy in 41 years. He will leave Spurs having scored 173 goals and adding 101 assists in 452 games as he became a club legend and the model of consistency.