New Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank is the 'signing of the season', says Joe Cole after win against Manchester City
Updated 23/08/2025 at 16:11 GMT+1
TNT Sports expert Joe Cole believes that new Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank is the signing of the summer after his side's win against Manchester City at Etihad Stadium. Spurs have now recorded back-to-back wins to start 2025/2026 after goals from Brennan Johnson and summer signing Joao Palhinha handed them a 2-0 win on the road. Frank's side beat Burnley 3-0 in their opening game.
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TNT Sports expert Joe Cole believes Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has been the "signing of the season" after guiding his side to back-to-back wins to open their Premier League season.
The north London club followed up their 3-0 triumph over Burnley on the opening day with a 2-0 victory over Manchester City at Etihad Stadium.
Brennan Johnson gave the visitors the lead in the 35th minute before a disastrous bit of distribution from City goalkeeper James Trafford gifted Joao Palhinha a goal on the stroke of half-time.
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Spurs reportedly missed out on the chance to recruit Eberechi Eze this week after bitter rivals Arsenal hijacked the transfer, but Cole believes Frank could turn out to be the best signing of the window.
"Brilliant, I said it at the start of the season, I think Thomas Frank is the signing of the season," said the former Chelsea and Liverpool star.
"I think coming into this club, he is going to calm things, he is going to bring everyone together. That was an outstanding performance from Tottenham from back to front.
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"I think having [Cristian] Romero and [Micky] van de Ven fit for all of the season could make a huge difference for the club, that is something that needs to happen.
"There could have been five or six men of the match, it was fantastic. Thomas Frank is really showing his worth, I think it is a great coup, and Tottenham are very lucky to have him."
Spurs went 2-0 up against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup earlier this month, but ultimately fell to a 4-3 defeat on penalties after conceding two late goals.
There was no sign of that on Saturday afternoon, though, as the visitors controlled the closing stages of the game.
Cole’s fellow TNT Sports expert Karen Carney believes Frank’s side produced a perfect performance on the road.
"You know what, it was perfect," she added. "Every person played the perfect role today and the game plan was superb.
"[Frank] picked his moments, when to press and when not to. That is brave, you have to be brave to do that, especially away at the Etihad."
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Pep Guardiola's City were well beaten, and Carney could not understand the change from the previous week when they opened the season with an impressive win at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
"I can’t believe what has happened," Carney said. "The City performance from last week to this week was night and day.
"I don’t know what has happened there, but credit to Spurs, absolutely brilliant. A perfect performance."
Frank praises Tottenham's mentality
Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League last term, but they showed character as they secured a place in this season’s UEFA Champions League with a 1-0 victory in the UEFA Europa League final against Manchester United.
Frank, who replaced Tottenham’s Europa League-winning manager Ange Postecoglou, insists that he inherited a squad with a great mentality.
Now the Danish coach wants to build on the morale-boosting end to the 2024/2025 campaign.
"I think this is one of the most difficult places to go to in the Premier League," he said.
"They came with everything and I think before our goal and them dominating us, they were more on top of the game.
"We stayed in it.
"We were solid and had a top mentality.
"After the first goal, more or less we were the better side.
"I found a strong mentality in the players.
"A group of players who had been through a tough season and ended on a high.
"Great mentality in many ways and then we had to build on that.
"On our goal kicks we tried to play out and that was quite successful at times, but the big thing is how we press from a goal kick - we go man to man and that is big for me."
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