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Randal Kolo Muani: Tottenham forward 'fine' after 'minor' car accident

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Randal Kolo Muani: Tottenham forward 'fine' after 'minor' car accident - BBC
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Tottenham manager Thomas Frank says French forward Randal Kolo Muani is "fine" after being involved in a "minor accident".

Pictures circulated on social media on Tuesday showing the 27-year-old and Wilson Odobert standing next to a damaged Ferrari, although the Spurs winger was travelling in his own car and stopped to assist his team-mate.

The accident happened as the pair were on their way to the airport for the club's trip to Germany and Wednesday's final Champions League group phase match at Eintracht Frankfurt (20:00 GMT).

Both Kolo Muani and compatriot Odobert were due to fly out later on Tuesday and boss Frank, speaking in his pre-match news conference, said "everyone else involved in the accident was fine".

"It was a tyre blowing up, so, they are little bit delayed, but they will land later tonight," he added.

Kolo Muani is on loan at Spurs from Paris St-Germain and has scored twice and assisted twice in Europe this season.

Frank "fully expects" both the frontman and Odobert to be available for the Frankfurt tie, where victory for his men will confirm a top-eight spot in the standings.

Spurs, however, will be without full-back Pedro Porro, who has a hamstring injury and "will be out for four weeks". Centre-back Micky van de Van has also not travelled due to a "minor thing", but could return for Sunday's Premier League home match with Manchester City (16:30 BST).

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Tottenham analysis: Will Spurs' blunt attack be Frank's undoing?

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Tottenham analysis: Will Spurs' blunt attack be Frank's undoing? - BBC
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Once again, it feels like Thomas Frank is on the brink.

Despite Cristian Romero's late equaliser, he and his Tottenham team were booed off by the away end after a 2-2 draw at Burnley - the continuation of a backing track that looks unlikely to stop any time soon.

Spurs fans appear almost universal in their displeasure at the football being offered up, and it is hard to look beyond his next defeat being his last.

They are simply not creating the quality of chances to win games. Only Sunderland (23.12) and the bottom two of Wolves (20.69) and Burnley (19.93) have created less than Spurs' expected goals (xG) of 23.95.

Frank's Brentford were setup to feed the ball to their fast and direct attackers - such as Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa - as quickly as possible, and finished the 2024-25 season with the league's eighth-best xG.

Whereas he previously has forward players he could rely upon to provide consistent output, Spurs' highest Premier League goalscorer this season is Richarlison with seven.

Joint second with four each are the central defensive pairing of Romero and Micky van de Ven, while none of offensive summer signings Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons, Randal Kolo Muani has scored more than twice in the league.

To address the balance, Frank has tried to build a solid defence to provide the bedrock to win Premier league points, but this only makes him more vulnerable to criticism from the fanbase when results do not follow.

Only Wolves (7) and Everton (12) have made fewer that Tottenham's Opta-defined 13 fast breaks so far this campaign, in sharp contrast to Keith Andrews' Brentford who lead the division on 43.

A midweek win over Borussia Dortmund and a late equaliser at Burnley on Saturday may show the players have not downed tools on Frank, but they remain inconsistent and ill-disciplined.

Despite not picking up any at Turf Moor, Spurs have received the most cards in the Premier League this season - 60 (58 yellows and two reds).

Yellows for tactical fouls to stop fast breaks and for game management to see through results are an inevitable by-products of the modern game, but such a tally in such a poor season shows a frustration and lack of control.

This is not a squad of players who have turned on their manager, but it is one that lacks identity, direction and, above all, belief.

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Liverpool: Andy Robertson unlikely to join Tottenham during January transfer window

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Liverpool: Andy Robertson unlikely to join Tottenham during January transfer window - BBC
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Liverpool are unlikely to sell left-back Andy Robertson to Tottenham in the transfer window as things stand.

After considering an offer worth £5m from Spurs for Robertson, who is out of contract in the summer, the Reds have determined they are not able to proceed.

A deal was agreed in principle between the clubs last week that the move could happen after Liverpool's final Champions League league match on Wednesday.

However, the deal was also dependent on Liverpool being able to recall left-back Kostas Tsimikas from his loan at Roma, which they have not been able to do so far.

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Burnley 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur: Match of the Day analysis

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Burnley 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur: Match of the Day analysis - BBC
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It's like Comedy Central at the back for Spurs - Williams. Video, 00:03:49It's like Comedy Central at the back for Spurs - Williams

Spurs 'will get there soon' - Palhinha. Video, 00:01:25Spurs 'will get there soon' - Palhinha

Drinking was my way of escaping real world - Bukauskas. Video, 00:01:53Drinking was my way of escaping real world - Bukauskas

Abuse totally devalues you as a human being - Carter. Video, 00:02:30Abuse totally devalues you as a human being - Carter

Pimblett - the five moments that changed everything. Video, 00:05:21Pimblett - the five moments that changed everything

Cuthbert on Chelsea, change & learning to be more 'direct' Video, 00:02:37Cuthbert on Chelsea, change & learning to be more 'direct'

'I always wanted to be a mum while doing gymnastics' Video, 00:01:48'I always wanted to be a mum while doing gymnastics'

As captain, I've made a terrible mistake - Brook. Video, 00:03:01As captain, I've made a terrible mistake - Brook

'Everything Spurs do ends up feeling like disappointment' Video, 00:02:18'Everything Spurs do ends up feeling like disappointment'

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Premier League Highlights: Burnley 2-2 Tottenham

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Premier League Highlights: Burnley 2-2 Tottenham - BBC
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Spurs 'will get there soon' - Palhinha. Video, 00:01:25Spurs 'will get there soon' - Palhinha

Drinking was my way of escaping real world - Bukauskas. Video, 00:01:53Drinking was my way of escaping real world - Bukauskas

Abuse totally devalues you as a human being - Carter. Video, 00:02:30Abuse totally devalues you as a human being - Carter

Pimblett - the five moments that changed everything. Video, 00:05:21Pimblett - the five moments that changed everything

Cuthbert on Chelsea, change & learning to be more 'direct' Video, 00:02:37Cuthbert on Chelsea, change & learning to be more 'direct'

'I always wanted to be a mum while doing gymnastics' Video, 00:01:48'I always wanted to be a mum while doing gymnastics'

As captain, I've made a terrible mistake - Brook. Video, 00:03:01As captain, I've made a terrible mistake - Brook

'Everything Spurs do ends up feeling like disappointment' Video, 00:02:18'Everything Spurs do ends up feeling like disappointment'

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Burnley 2-2 Tottenham: Thomas Frank remains on brink at Spurs

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'Joyless and toxic' - will Spurs put Frank out of his misery? - BBC
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Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank left Turf Moor to the sounds that are now becoming a familiar backing track to what looks an increasingly unsustainable tenure.

Cristian Romero's last-minute header rescued a 2-2 draw just as Burnley looked on the brink of piling more embarrassment on the embattled Dane by securing their first win in 14 Premier League games.

'Dr Tottenham' – the jibe that suggests they can prescribe a cure for even the most serious ills of their opponents – looked to be on the brink of the most dramatic cure yet until Romero struck.

But if Frank thought this would ease the growing anger of travelling fans he would have been sorely mistaken as he once more felt the full force of their fury after the final whistle.

Indeed, the discontent surfaced even in the first half as Spurs fans chanted "sideways and backwards everywhere we go" as the ball was passed around aimlessly.

Micky van de Ven's opening goal was greeted with ironic chants of "we're staying up" from the visitors' section.

And, once the final whistle sounded, Frank walked off to deafening chants of "sacked in the morning" from his own fans and other more colourful phrases of the uncomplimentary variety.

Frank's position came under internal scrutiny after the home loss to another struggling side, West Ham United, with BBC Sport reporting that at least one member of the club's executive team has actively raised the option of ending his reign in recent weeks.

The question for the club's hierarchy now is whether they should move quickly to put him out of his misery or give Frank the opportunity to turn Spurs' fortunes around.

Frank got some relief with the Champions League win against Borussia Dortmund, which illustrated the sharp contrast between Spurs in the Premier League and in Europe.

Spurs have won only two of their past 14 Premier League games - but there is the good news that a win at Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday puts them straight through to the last 16 of the Champions League.

For all that, the ill-feeling continually aimed towards Frank, as was in evidence here, is not going away and it must be a question of when rather than if Spurs make a change.

It was impossible to disagree with Frank's assertion that Spurs should have won this game measured on chances and the series of outstanding saves made by Burnley keeper Martin Dubravka. The rub is they ended up grasping desperately for the point Romero's thumping header gave them.

Van de Ven's goal gave them a deserved lead, but Spurs then switched off to allow Axel Tuanzebe to sweep in Burnley's equaliser in first-half stoppage time.

Spurs had more opportunities after the break, but such is the frailty of Frank's team that once Burnley, lying in 19th place in the table, actually showed the courage of their convictions, they lost control, leading to Lyle Foster's second for the Clarets.

If Burnley had won, surely a decision on Frank's fate could not have been delayed any longer.

Frank was doing his best to keep the lid on his emotions and accentuate the positives after the game, but he revealed his frustration as he thumped the table in front of him three times in time with his words when he insisted Spurs should "never, ever, ever" concede a goal like Tuanzebe's, repeating the message and actions when discussing Foster's goal.

"You can't say we didn't do everything to win," he told Match of the Day. "We just need to keep improving. The only way it can be is calm heads, carry on and keep doing what we think is the right thing.

"You see the game. We do more than enough to win the game. We just need to defend better in two situations. And, of course, score another goal that could make the difference at 1-0."

And yet again Frank had to rely on defenders for goals, showing once more the lack of potency – and resources – he has in attack.

Only Richarlison, with eight, has scored more than Van de Ven, who has netted seven this season. The Dutchman's tally is also the most of any Premier League defender across all competitions.

Romero has scored four Premier League goals this season, but his latest was not enough to dilute what is becoming the familiar toxicity aimed in Frank's direction.

"Van de Ven and Romero got the goals but there were more problems at the back against a Burnley side who've now gone 14 games without a win," said ex-Wales defender Ashley Williams, who is a pundit on Saturday's Match of the Day.

"I just think in the second half it was so easy for Burnley. They had four big chances in the game and I'm sure Thomas Frank will be unhappy with how his team defended. There's a lack of discipline and focus when Spurs need calmness from their big players and leaders."

This explains, to a large degree, the pursuit of Liverpool's Scotland left-back Andy Robertson, with talks ongoing.

If Spurs can get the result they need in Frankfurt, Frank may find some solace, but this carries all the hallmarks of a situation coming to a head with a fierce upcoming fixture list.

After Frankfurt, Spurs are at home to Manchester City before a visit to Manchester United. They then host Newcastle before a north London derby at home to Arsenal.

Life is anything but easy for Thomas Frank. And it is not going to get any easier in his joyless, toxic reign at Tottenham.

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