Spurs Web

Thomas Frank has now revealed the reason behind some of the big calls he made when naming Tottenham Hotspur’s Champions League squad for the league phase.

Tottenham Hotspur are back in the UEFA Champions League after last season’s triumph in Bilbao, which sealed a return to Europe’s top table in style.

Despite Ange Postecoglou guiding Spurs to Europa League glory, his departure paved the way for Thomas Frank, who has now taken charge of Tottenham and will lead the north London club in Europe for the first time under his management.

As Frank steps into the competition, he has already been faced with difficult calls, with his maiden Champions League squad selection demanding tough decisions that left notable players excluded.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank explains Champions League squad decision

Spurs’ lack of club-trained players has resulted in Frank’s Champions League squad being trimmed from 25 to 22, meaning there was no space for several high-profile names.

James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Mathys Tel, Kota Takai, Yves Bissouma and Radu Dragusin were all left out of the squad, and Frank has now spoken openly about the reasoning behind those omissions.

He said (Tottenham official): “That was an extremely difficult decision. I also think in many ways it was a bit unfair. The UEFA lists are not big enough. The load is getting more and more on the players. We need a bigger squad. I cannot understand why we need to limit ourselves.

MORE SPURS STORIES

“I like the idea of club-trained players by the way. I needed to name it before I really knew ‘Matty’ [Mathys Tel]. I think the way he handled it was extremely mature. It was really impressive.”

What Tel said about his omission from Spurs’ Champions League squad

Of the six players excluded, five were understandable choices, given that four are carrying injuries and Yves Bissouma’s future at Tottenham remains uncertain.

However, the absence of Mathys Tel has created more discussion amongst fans, with his omission surprising many.

Speaking about the decision, Tel made clear that missing out was painful, yet he emphasised his determination to remain positive.

He said: “It is clear that when you are not on a squad, it definitely hurts, but I am someone who stays pretty positive, no matter the situation, because I think I have worked a lot on my mental side, so today it is definitely a disappointment; I would have liked to be there.

“But the coach’s choice is the coach’s choice; we can only respect it, and we will work to come back in the best possible way.”

The France Under-21 international also revealed that Frank spoke to him directly before the decision was made public, and he praised the respectful manner in which the manager dealt with the situation.

He added: “Quite simply, with respect. He called me, he told me his choice, and afterwards you saw the list appear on social media.”

Thomas Frank has issued an important team news update ahead of Tottenham’s London derby with West Ham United, with the Spurs boss revealing the latest on injuries and player fitness following the international break.

Tottenham Hotspur’s focus now switches back to the Premier League after a two-week international break that saw several of their stars called up for duty with their national teams.

Thomas Frank’s men returned to Hotspur Way with no fresh injury concerns from international duty, which will be a welcome boost as he looks to pick his first derby side.

New signing Xavi Simons managed to gain some valuable minutes with the Netherlands during the break, which should aid his adaptation, while deadline-day arrival Randal Kolo Muani remained at Hotspur Way after not being selected for the French national side.

It will be Thomas Frank’s first London derby as manager of Tottenham, and the Dane will be desperate to make a winning start in front of the away supporters.

Although most of his players returned unscathed from international duty, Frank still has several injury concerns to contend with.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison remain long-term absentees, though the addition of Simons is expected to help ease some of the creative burden within this Spurs side.

Radu Dragusin could be back to full fitness by October, while Kota Takai continues his rehabilitation. Yves Bissouma’s fitness issues have delayed a transfer from Tottenham, and he is a doubt for the West Ham United clash.

Dominic Solanke, who missed the Bournemouth fixture with an ankle injury, will not return as of yet despite Frank suggesting that Solanke might be available after the international break.

Destiny Udogie featured against Bournemouth last time out, making his return after missing the opening two Premier League fixtures, and managed a strong 20 minutes on the pitch.

An algorithm run by a reputable football analytics firm has crunched the numbers and given the probability for each team winning the Premier League, and according to their calculations, Tottenham are only the ninth favourite.

Hardly any pundits had Tottenham finishing in the top four before the start of the season, and that is understandable, given that the Lilywhites had their worst-ever Premier League showing last term, finishing 17th with 22 league defeats.

The Thomas Frank era did get off to an excellent start with a good performance against European champions PSG in the Super Cup, followed by back-to-back wins and consecutive clean sheets against Burnley and Man City.

However, Spurs followed that up with an extremely poor performance against Bournemouth, who dominated the Lilywhites at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with the 1-0 loss arguably flattering Frank’s side.

Tottenham named ninth favourites to win the Premier League

Not even the most optimistic of Tottenham Hotspur fans are expecting a title charge this season, but they might be surprised to learn how far down the club’s chances have been ranked.

According to a study by CIES Football Observatory, the North London club have less than a one per cent chance of winning the title this season.

Unsurprisingly, Liverpool are the favourites, being handed a 28.9 per cent chance of retaining the title, while Arsenal are second at 18.8.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Those two are then followed by Chelsea, Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Manchester United, who have all been given a better chance of getting their hands on the league title than Spurs.

Why Man United may have an advantage in finishing above Spurs

Most Tottenham fans will be surprised that the algorithm has predicted Man United to finish above the Lilywhites, given how poor Ruben Amorim’s men have looked so far this season.

However, like with Spurs in the 2023-24 season, the Red Devils have the luxury of no European football this season, which means that they will be able to name their strongest side more often than not.

Thomas Frank has explained what he is looking to achieve at Tottenham Hotspur this season, insisting that he is not too concerned with the idea of setting a multi-year plan.

Many of Tottenham’s recent managers have worshipped at the altar of the ‘long-term project’, not least Frank’s predecessor Ange Postecoglou.

That is understandable, given that Spurs have fallen away from the best sides across the Premier League during the last five or six years, and need time to build themselves to that level.

In his first press conference as Tottenham head coach, Frank insisted that he wants Spurs to be competitive in all four competitions, pointing out that it is not something the club have managed since 2019. He has now reiterated a similar message.

Thomas Frank wants Tottenham to play at their best in every single game

The 51-year-old acknowledged the importance of laying a solid foundation in his first year at the club, but he made it clear that he is not looking too far into the future.

Frank remarked that he wants Spurs to be focused on playing their best football in every game, adding that the results will take care of themselves if they do that.

When asked what would represent success at Tottenham this season, the former Brentford boss told BetMGM (as relayed by The Standard): “Success this season is building something that is sustainable and strong. I want us to consistently perform at our highest level each and every game.

MORE SPURS STORIES

“If we can do that, we will win enough games to get us into a place where we want to be, so that’s the aim. I have been in the Premier League for four years now, it is so competitive and relentless. Every team, player and manager is so good you have to be on it every time you step on the pitch.

“I know everyone wants to talk about the future, but, for me, the most important thing is the here and now. It is easy to talk about the months and years to come – we need to think about what we are building in this moment, as that is what we can control.”

Why long-term projects are dangerous at Tottenham

Managers can talk about long-term projects all they want, but the reality at a club like Spurs is that the coaches have to earn the chance to stay and build something.

If the results are not good at the start, Frank will not get the luxury of building something for two or three years, which is why he is right to focus on winning each game.

Reports over the last week have indicated that after the departure of Daniel Levy, Tottenham want to go in a new, ambitious direction and win trophies.

That potentially means that the owners may not be shy of making a managerial change if the team is not progressing in the right direction.

Ange Postecoglou has spoken about his relationship with Daniel Levy and the former Tottenham chairman’s role in building the club up to the behemoth it is today.

It was Levy who made the decision to appoint Postecoglou a little over two years ago, and the Australian became the last in a long line of managers that he had sacked earlier this summer.

Levy explained that the results in the Premier League were behind the decision to sack Postecoglou, but he insisted that the 60-year-old was always going to be part of the club’s history for delivering the Europa League trophy.

Since the former Tottenham supremo’s departure, a few of the former Spurs managers and players have spoken up, with Harry Redknapp insisting that Levy was unfairly criticised for some of Joe Lewis’ decisions.

Ange Postecoglou is thankful to Daniel Levy for appointing him at Tottenham

Postecoglou has taken over as Nottingham Forest’s head coach, and unsurprisingly, he was asked about his former boss’ departure, just months after he showed him the door from N17.

The former Spurs boss admitted that he did not share as close a relationship with Levy, but thanked him for appointing him, and he also spoke of what the 63-year-old has done for Tottenham.

When asked about Levy’s departure, Postecoglou said (via Football.London): “I don’t think it’s the kind of forum for me to speak about that at length. Again, I didn’t have a great deal of interaction with Daniel. I tend to get on with my daily business and do what I need to do.

MORE SPURS STORIES

“He was there for a very long time. He invested a hell of a lot in the football club in terms of building it up to where it was. Obviously, he appointed me, so I’ve got to be thankful for that. Hopefully, I repaid him with winning a trophy, which they haven’t had in a long time.”

Postecoglou has no hard feelings towards Tottenham

The new Forest boss has been asked a lot of questions about how his time at Tottenham ended since taking over at the City Ground.

Postecoglou has indicated that he expected Tottenham’s decision to sack him, but has insisted he has felt nothing but warmth and appreciation from the Spurs supporters since he left N17.

The former Tottenham boss has now added about his departure from North London: “How it ended, I don’t really think about it a lot. To be fair, I’ve done it a couple of times myself. I left Celtic, and I’m sure that they were disappointed when I left.

“You understand that’s part of the business we’re in. But that’s okay. It’s allowed me now to move into this (Forest) and maybe that’s happened for a reason.”

Jeff Stelling has predicted the result of the London derby between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur, and has named the Hammers player that Spurs have to watch out for.

Thomas Frank’s men will be looking to get back to winning ways following their 1-0 loss to Bournemouth, which came as a shock, given how well the Lilywhites had started the season.

Tottenham have been boosted by the arrivals of Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani, both of whom are potentially set for their Spurs debuts.

Mohammed Kudus has had an excellent start to his Tottenham career, but he has a point to prove when he returns to his former club, and he will expect a hostile reception.

Jeff Stelling expects Tottenham to come out on top against West Ham

Stelling has now admitted that he was extremely impressed by Lucas Paqueta’s showing against Nottingham Forest, naming the Brazilian as the one to watch out for.

However, he believes that Tottenham Hotspur have too much quality for their London rivals, backing them to keep a clean sheet and emerge with all three points from the London Stadium.

Stelling told talkSPORT: “The Hammers looked reborn in the second half against Nottingham Forest. Lucas Paqueta is on fire, as they say, three in three, he only scored five in the entirety of last season.

MORE SPURS STORIES

“West Ham have only won at home twice in the whole of 2025, and if Spurs rediscover the form they showed at the Etihad, I think they’ll win. Sorry Hammers fans, I’m going West Ham nil, Tottenham two.”

Why this is an early era-defining game for Thomas Frank at Spurs

Despite the horrid performance against Bournemouth, the mood around Tottenham is positive, partly owing to the arrivals of Simons and Kolo Muani.

If Spurs can emerge with all three points from the London Stadium – a venue where their record has been poor of late- the players and the fans will forget the loss against Cherries as a blip.

However, another loss would start mounting some pressure on Frank and his coaching staff, and would kill the momentum that was built in the first few weeks of the campaign.

Following the two-week international break, Tottenham Hotspur return to Premier League action with an away trip to face West Ham on Saturday.

It must have felt like a long two weeks for Spurs fans. The last time they saw their side in Premier League action, it ended in disappointment as Spurs lost 0-1 at home to Bournemouth. That result stung even more given how bright the start to the campaign had been. Spurs opened with a 3-0 win over Burnley before beating Manchester City 2-0 at the Etihad.

Against Bournemouth, though, they never recovered from Evanilson’s early strike. The performance was flat, with Thomas Frank’s side failing to create a single big chance in front of a frustrated home crowd. It was a game to forget, and one that handed Frank his first defeat against Bournemouth, a side he had never lost to during his Brentford tenure.

Across London, things have hardly been good for West Ham. After a 14th-place finish last season, there was hope that Graham Potter could steady the ship, but the start has been rough.

A 3-0 defeat to newly promoted Sunderland on opening day was followed by a 5-1 thrashing at Chelsea. Three days later, Wolves eliminated them from the Carabao Cup with a 3-2 win.

However, West Ham finally gave their fans something to cheer about before the break, beating Nottingham Forest 3-0 at home.

What time does West Ham vs Tottenham Hotspur kick off?

West Ham vs Tottenham Hotspur: Head-to-head record

West Ham have managed just one win in their last seven Premier League meetings with Spurs (D3 L3), a 2-1 victory away from home in December 2023.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Each of the previous three league clashes between the sides at the London Stadium finished 1-1. In fact, Spurs are winless in their last five league visits to East London (D3 L2) since a 3-2 win back in November 2019.

When these two met last season, it finished 1-1. Before that, Spurs thrashed West Ham 4-1 in a fiery encounter that saw Mohammed Kudus sent off after clashing with almost half the Tottenham squad. Ange Postecoglou was still in charge then, but Frank boasts a decent record against the Hammers from his Brentford days, winning six of his 11 meetings.

Tottenham team news

There are two fresh faces available for Spurs following the Bournemouth defeat. Thomas Frank finally has a number 10 in Xavi Simons, while deadline day brought striker Randal Kolo Muani on loan from PSG. Both have trained with the squad and are in contention.

Injury-wise, not much has changed. James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Radu Dragusin remain long-term absentees. Dominic Solanke, Yves Bissouma and Kota Takai are doubtful, but their availability will only become clearer once Frank addresses the press on Friday.

West Ham team news

Graham Potter confirmed that Niclas Fullkrug will be assessed after he picked up a knock during international duty. While the German has trained lightly, it seems more likely that Callum Wilson will lead the line. Luis Guilherme remains sidelined, and 21-year-old George Earthy is also a doubt.

Predicted Tottenham line-up

Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Bentancur, Simons, Sarr; Kudus, Richarlison, Johnson.

Destiny Udogie returned from injury against Bournemouth, but Djed Spence’s form means the Italian may have to settle for a place on the bench. If Udogie does feature, it could be as a replacement for either Porro or Spence.

In midfield, Xavi Simons is the player everyone wants to see. Frank may play him in his natural number 10 role, giving Spurs the creativity they lacked against Bournemouth. That would mean Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Matar Sarr providing the balance behind him.

However, there is a chance Frank could keep faith in his tried and tested trio of Rodrigo Bentancur, Joao Palhinha and Pape Matar Sarr. Palhinha, though, was particularly poor last time out, and with his limited involvement during the international break for Portugal, we have opted to leave him out here.

If Frank does decide to stick with his midfield three, then expect Simons to feature out wide, in place of Brennan Johnson. The Welshman had a disappointing afternoon against Bournemouth and then struggled during international duty, being benched for one match and failing to impress in the other. Frank may be reluctant to fully drop him, as he would rather let Simons fill in the number 10 role.

Up front, the man in form, Richarlison, will likely continue to lead the line despite competition from new signing Randal Kolo Muani, who is set to make his debut off the bench.

Our prediction

Thomas Frank and his players know they let the fans down against Bournemouth, and that disappointment will give them the extra push to prove it was not a true reflection of the team as they look to put things right for Tottenham.

Mohammed Kudus will be the man to help Spurs do that, as he faces his former side. Following the criticism surrounding his move, he will be hungry to silence the West Ham fans.

Xavi Simons is obviously another man to watch out for. Seen as the answer to Spurs’ creativity problems, the La Masia graduate will want to leave an impression on his Premier League debut.

Despite the stats suggesting a likely draw for the fourth consecutive time at the London Stadium, we expect Thomas Frank’s men to get the job done with plenty to spare.

Tottenham Hotspur travel across London this weekend to face West Ham United, and with a busy schedule ahead, Thomas Frank could be set to hand first starts of the season to several players who have been waiting for their chance to impress.

Tottenham Hotspur will be desperate to bounce back to winning ways when they face off against London rivals West Ham United at the London Stadium.

Several Tottenham players have just returned from international duty, where they picked up much-needed minutes to sharpen their fitness, and Frank will be mindful of how he rotates his squad with a heavy run of fixtures looming.

The UEFA Champions League league phase begins the week after the West Ham clash, which means Frank may turn to some of his fresh options to spread the load across the squad.

Six players, in particular, could be in line for their first starts of the season, and we have highlighted each one of them.

Xavi Simons could make first Tottenham start vs West Ham

Xavi Simons, who only arrived at Tottenham days before the summer window slammed shut, looks primed for his first full start this weekend.

Tottenham have lacked a creative spark in midfield, a problem that was glaringly obvious in the defeat against Bournemouth, and with Simons fit after minutes on international duty, the Dutch international seems ready to step in.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Spotted in training on Wednesday, Simons was heavily involved in tactical drills, which highlights Frank’s plans for him.

At £51 million, Tottenham’s new signing is unlikely to be eased in slowly, and with the Champions League starting next week, he may be thrown straight into the starting XI at the London Stadium.

Randal Kolo Muani pushing for first Tottenham start

Randal Kolo Muani is another big signing who could be handed a chance, as Tottenham look to rediscover their winning rhythm.

The French striker stayed back during the international break, giving him valuable time on the training ground with Frank and his staff, which may prove useful as he adapts to life in North London.

Richarlison, meanwhile, was in action for Brazil until midweek and played just over an hour, so Frank could decide to keep him fresh for the Champions League, meaning Muani might get his opportunity to lead the line, although a substitute role still looks the likelier outcome depending on the flow of the game.

Dominic Solanke return depends on injury

Dominic Solanke has barely been involved for Tottenham this season, with injuries keeping him sidelined in the early weeks.

The striker missed the clash with Bournemouth due to a hamstring issue, although there is optimism that he might return after the international break.

If Solanke is passed fit, then he could be in contention to face West Ham, but given Tottenham’s attacking options and the recent arrival of Kolo Muani, it feels unlikely Frank risks starting him immediately.

Mathys Tel looking for Tottenham chance

Mathys Tel has been in the headlines after being excluded from Tottenham’s Champions League squad list.

The French forward responded in style during the break with a thunderous strike for France Under-21s, which reminded everyone of his talent and potential.

Tottenham fans have been calling for Tel to be given a chance under Frank, and with him ineligible for midweek Champions League action, the 20-year-old might just get a run out against West Ham.

Wilson Odobert waiting for Tottenham start

Wilson Odobert is yet to start a game under Thomas Frank, with the manager preferring Mohammed Kudus and Brennan Johnson as his wide options.

The competition for places is fierce, and it is difficult to see where Odobert fits in at present, although he does provide flexibility by being able to play centrally or on either flank.

That said, Simons is expected to play in the number ten role, and both Kudus and Johnson remain in strong form, so while Odobert could get a look in, it feels more likely that he will remain an impact option from the bench.

Destiny Udogie ready for Tottenham breakthrough

Destiny Udogie made his first competitive appearance of the season against Bournemouth, coming off the bench and offering plenty of attacking intent from full-back.

The Italian did not feature for his national side during the break, so he will be fresh and ready if Frank chooses to make changes to his defensive set-up.

Tottenham Hotspur’s first London derby of the season is around the corner, and now Opta’s supercomputer has weighed in on their clash with West Ham United.

The international break is finally over, and Tottenham Hotspur’s attention is set to turn back to Premier League action.

Following their home defeat at the end of August, Spurs will now be on the road in matchweek four when they take on West Ham United.

It is set to be the first London derby of the campaign for Tottenham, against a Hammers side who will be buoyed by their emphatic 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest. This comes despite a sluggish start to the season, which saw them lose their opening two matches while conceding eight goals.

Opta supercomputer predicts Tottenham vs West Ham clash

Opta’s supercomputer has now revealed its score prediction for the Tottenham versus West Ham United fixture this weekend.

Despite Tottenham coming into the derby off the back of a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Bournemouth, the model still has Spurs down as the most likely winners when they face the Hammers.

The prediction has handed Tottenham a 41.8% chance of victory, while West Ham United have been given a 32.7% chance of taking all three points.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Tottenham and West Ham recent form and outlook

Historically, in the last five meetings between the two sides, Tottenham hold the stronger record with two wins, West Ham securing one victory and the other games ending in draws.

Spurs are coming off a difficult campaign and will be desperate to set things right this season, with Thomas Frank already collecting two league wins that he will want to build upon with another strong showing at the London Stadium.

After a strong start to the season, Richarlison’s form appears to be tailing off, and the Tottenham striker’s latest performance for Brazil may pose a problem for Thomas Frank.

The Tottenham Hotspur striker was arguably the club’s best performer across the first three games of the season against Paris Saint-Germain, Burnley and Man City.

Richarlison even won the Premier League Player of the Week award in gameweek one for his brilliant brace in the 3-0 win over the Clarets.

However, the 28-year-old struggled in the 1-0 loss to Bournemouth, being bullied by the Cherries centre-halves and failing to give Spurs an out-ball when they were under pressure. It appears that his struggles have continued during the international break.

Brazilian media were not impressed with Richarlison against Bolivia

The former Everton man got just 11 minutes under his belt in Brazil’s 3-0 win at home against Chile last week, with Chelsea’s Joao Pedro getting the nod to start as the number nine.

However, Carlo Ancelotti gave Richarlison an opportunity to lead the line away at Bolivia on Tuesday, but the Spurs man failed to take his chance as the Selecao fell to a 1-0 defeat.

Richarlison was replaced by Pedro on 61 minutes, and the Brazilian media were not too impressed with what they saw from the Tottenham striker.

MORE SPURS STORIES

GE Globo gave him a 5/10 and wrote: “He was rarely called upon. On his only chance, in the 37th minute of the first half, he controlled the ball, burst into the box, and struck hard, but the ball deflected off the defender.

“He left the game during the first substitution, in the 17th minute of the second half. He has remained goalless for the national team since the World Cup in Qatar.”

Will Thomas Frank be tempted to start Randal Kolo Muani?

Richarlison’s mini-slump in form is a cause for concern for Thomas Frank, particularly given that there remain doubts over Dominic Solanke’s fitness.

However, Frank’s squad has been boosted with Tottenham’s deadline-day loan signing of Randal Kolo Munai, who adds experience and firepower to the Spurs frontline.