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Three key missing stars from Tottenham training, Mohammed Kudus mystery and happy Maddison moment

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Three key missing stars from Tottenham training, Mohammed Kudus mystery and happy Maddison moment - Football London
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Here are some of the things we noticed from Tottenham's training session at Hotspur Way on Monday afternoon ahead of the Champions League game against Copenhagen

Tottenham took to the training pitches of Hotspur Way on Monday afternoon ahead of their Champions League clash against Copenhagen.

Thomas Frank was watching over the session at Spurs' Enfield-based training complex as the media were allowed to watch over 15 minutes of the action on the lush green turf. The session came after Saturday's disappointing derby defeat to Chelsea which brought plenty of criticism for the Dane and his players.

Tottenham will be looking to bounce back with their European league phase tie against Copenhagen, who are fourth in the Danish Superliga.

As they worked on the grass at Hotspur Way, football.london's Spurs correspondent Alasdair Gold was among those watching on for the allotted time to the media. Here are five things we saw in the session.

Who was missing?

Dejan Kulusevski, Ben Davies, Kota Takai and Yves Bissouma could not be spotted either on the pitch or in the gym and there were three other faces conspicuous by their absence. Lucas Bergvall was not training which suggests the young Swede is going through the concussion protocols after further tests following his swift exit from Saturday's game.

Djed Spence was also absent from the training session, with the last sighting of the England full-back for the Tottenham fans being that awkward walk past Frank after the final whistle when the Spurs boss wanted him and Micky van de Ven to go and applaud the fans and they didn't.

The other missing key man was Mohammed Kudus, which was mysterious at the time because of one thing.

The Kudus mystery

The absence of the 25-year-old from the training session was an unusual one because Kudus was set to be alongside Frank in Monday's press conference.

The summer signing has been a shining light for Spurs since arriving from West Ham and his head coach will not want to lose him from a game that the north London side need to get back to winning ways in.

There may be another reason for Kudus' absence than injury and he might have joined in later in the session, but it did not look good. The mystery should be solved soon.

What they did

Those who were training, with the squad bolstered by plenty of U21s players, went through various passing drills and were already in the swing of things by the time the media came out.

Then the players were led over to another area of the pitches where they took part in rondos in ever-decreasing squares with individual development coach Cameron Campbell in charge of one group and Frank overseeing the whole thing.

When the media departed after their allotted 15 minutes, Spurs would have moved into more tactical work away from the prying eyes.

Fun on the pitch

Despite the disappointment of Saturday's dismal derby, the Tottenham players were enjoying themselves in the rondo work especially.

Destiny Udogie was joking with some of the younger players, falling to the floor on one occasion as if one of them had fouled him, while Richarlison was playing with a smile on his face throughout.

Frank will be hoping that his Spurs stars are still smiling at the end of Tuesday night's match.

Maddison in gym with Solanke

There were a couple of familiar faces in the gym behind the pitches with James Maddison and Dominic Solanke both going through work with sports science staff.

Solanke is on the way back from his ankle injury with Frank saying the striker should be back in action after the coming international break.

Maddison is out for far longer with his anterior cruciate ligament injury and could be seen looking forlornly through the window at those training. He did have a happier moment though at the end of the 15 minutes as he appeared to be involved in, or at least watching, the briefest moment of keepy uppy with a ball in the gym.

The midfielder will be pining for a return to actual ball work in the future when he returns next year.

Tottenham and Chelsea handed final Rodrigo Bentancur red card referee verdict

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Tottenham Hotspur were poor in defeat at home to Chelsea on Saturday and many believe that Spurs midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur was fortunate to escape a red card

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has offered his view on Tottenham star Rodrigo Bentancur potentially escaping a red card during Saturday's defeat to Chelsea.

Enzo Maresca's team scored the game's only goal 34 minutes in after sloppy play from Thomas Frank's men. First, Djed Spence gave the ball away - before Spurs initially won it back - only for Xavi Simons to under-hit a pass to teammate Micky van de Ven, and the Dutch defender lost it in trying to dribble past Moises Caicedo, who found Joao Pedro to score.

Tottenham struggled to create anything, other than a couple of Mohammed Kudus efforts before the break, and had goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario to thank for it not being a far heavier defeat on the night, making a string of saves, mostly from match-winner Pedro.

One contentious moment in the match saw Spurs midfielder Bentancur shown a yellow rather than a red for a challenge on Reece James. Asked on Sky Sports' Ref Watch for his view on the incident, Gallagher said: "I think this is one of them.

"If he gets sent off, VAR is not bringing him back. I think it's more red than a yellow card.

"But I can understand the yellow on field. I think VAR is going to back the decision."

Former Coventry City striker Jay Bothroyd also had his say on the show. He said: "If he does get a red card there, I say, I understand why he got it, but then after that, I can understand as well why it's a yellow card.

"It's an aggressive challenge. It's one of those orange card challenges."

Meanwhile, a separate incident saw Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez receive a yellow card instead of a red for a challenge on Spurs' Joao Palhina.

Asked for his view on the incident, Gallagher said: "I definitely do not think this is a red card, his feet are up and it is a glancing blow, he has not gone through him, it is almost sideways.

"If he was in front and had gone through like that, he is on big trouble, but because of the angle he comes in at, he does not get the force or contact and so does not make the impact."

Bothroyd added: "I really like this decision from the ref. Enzo has tried to make an honest challenge there and just toe the ball away and as he has toed the ball away, his foot is obviously up, but his foot has hit the side of Palhinha's knee, so in that instance it is not a reckless tackle, or a high challenge. From certain angles and a high speed, it looks a red."

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Tottenham boss on Lucas Bergvall update, Van de Ven and Spence

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Thomas Frank press conference LIVE - Tottenham boss on Lucas Bergvall update, Van de Ven and Spence - Football London
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Thomas Frank is holding a press conference with Guglielmo Vicario on Monday afternoon ahead of Tottenham Hotspur's Champions League match against Copenhagen.

Spurs remain fifth in the Premier League table but there has been an element of gloom around the club after Saturday's dismal derby defeat to Chelsea. Frank's side created barely anything with their lowest XG since such statistics began with just three shots and one on target at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the 1-0 defeat that could have been worse but for a string of saves from Guglielmo Vicario.

After the final whistle, there was a further awkward moment when Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence, who both made mistakes for Joao Pedro's winning goal, ignored Frank's instruction to applaud the home fans and instead walked past him and down the tunnel while he watched them go.

Tottenham had lost 19-year-old midfielder Lucas Bergvall within just a couple of minutes of the contest starting after the Swede took a powerful hit to the side of his head from the ball which left him wobbly on his feet. He was taken off through the concussion protocol and further tests will decide whether the teenager now misses up to 12 days as a precautionary measure.

Frank will deliver further updates on the midfielder as well as any fresh injuries from the defeat to Chelsea and any progress with those already out. Vicario, who has been a shining light for Tottenham in recent weeks, will give his take on the current situation at the north London club.

Our Spurs correspondent Alasdair Gold is among those putting the questions to Frank and Kudus. Scroll down for the latest from the press conference at Hotspur Way.

Bergvall timeline, Solanke update, Gray latest - Tottenham injury news and return dates

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Tottenham Hotspur will be determined to return to winning ways on Tuesday night when they host Copenhagen in the Europa League

Thomas Frank has provided an update on Lucas Bergvall. The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder was forced to come off in the opening minutes of the 1-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday night due to a concussion.

He joins a long list of players who are still out of action. Fortunately, though, a few big names returned to the matchday squad at the weekend, with Cristiano Romero, Destiny Udogie, and Wilson Odobert among those who featured off the bench against the Club World Cup champions.

Spurs will be determined to return to winning ways on Tuesday night when they host Copenhagen in the Europa League. So, with that being said, football.london has rounded up all the latest Tottenham injury news.

Lucas Bergvall

According to The FA's guidelines, after an initial 24 to 48 hour period of 'relative rest', Bergvall will be allowed to undergo a graduated return to full daily activity. The 19-year-old midfielder will be allowed to train, but 'at a rate that does not worsen existing symptoms'.

The FA have a 'Graduated return to play' (GRTP) programme, which could keep Bergvall out of action for a minimum of 21 days. The sporting body also have an 'Enhanced care pathway' for players over the age of 18, which permits RTP after 12 days – or after seven days so long as exceptional criteria is met.

What Frank has said: "That was a concussion. So he totally couldn't stay on and I think the medical team did a good job in that aspect. And even if he wanted to stay on, it's the right decision that he stays on. Of course, we would have loved to have him continue. That's why we picked him in the starting XI. Unfortunately, that couldn't happen."

Expected return date: End of November.

Archie Gray

Gray suffered a calf injury in training ahead of Tottenham's clash against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup fourth round. 19-year-old midfielder, who was expected to start the tie, has struggled to force himself into Frank's side this season.

Expected return date: December.

Dominic Solanke

Solanke underwent a minor ankle procedure last month to repair an issue first suffered during pre-season.

What Frank has said: "[He is] very aware that we want him back. Hopefully touch wood have him back and no setbacks. We are very aware of doing it the right way. It's going in the right direction.

"He'll not be available before the international break - that's the status now. If he was fit enough, he'd have been involved Wednesday. He's ready to be involved tomorrow, let's see how much."

Expected return date: End of November.

Radu Dragusin

Dragusin has recently returned to first-team training as he looks to rebuild his fitness following a serious knee injury. The 23-year-old defender has been sidelined for nine months, so it could be a while yet until Frank gives him a start.

Expected return date: End of November.

Ben Davies

Davies has been nursing a hamstring injury. The 32-year-old defender was forced to come off in Wales' 4-2 defeat to Belgium in a World Cup qualifier back in October.

What Frank has said: "Ben has got a hamstring injury, so it'll probably be around four or five weeks [out for him].

Expected return date: End of November.

Dejan Kulusevski

Kulusevski had surgery on his knee in May. Frank hopes to welcome the 25-year-old midfielder back to action before the end of the year.

What Frank has said: "Still not on the grass. Working very hard to get him fit as quick as possible."

Expected return date: December.

Yves Bissouma

Bissouma hasn't played for Tottenham yet this season. The 29-year-old midfielder was left out of the squad for the UEFA Super Cup due to disciplinary reasons, and then he suffered an injury while out on international duty with Mali.

What Frank has said: " Biss, unfortunately, had a situation with the national team, I think everyone saw that, so he got a ligament injury to his ankle that will keep him out for weeks."

Expected return date: Unknown.

James Maddison

Maddison remains out with a knee injury after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament during a pre-season friendly against Newcastle. The 28-year-old midfielder is expected to miss most, if not all, of the season.

Expected return date: End of the season.

Kota Takai

Takai suffered a plantar fascia injury in his foot shortly after joining Tottenham in the summer. The 21-year-old defender was dealt a slight setback on his road to recovery.

What Frank has said: " Kota is a quad problem. He's about to be training, soon."

‘Tottenham icon tore me apart more than Drogba and Henry - I was in so much trouble’

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Ex-Leeds United defender Clarke Carlisle has named the one striker that he faced in the Premier League that he found the most difficult to play against

Clarke Carlisle has revealed that Robbie Keane was the Premier League striker he found most challenging to play against. The former defender described the ex-Tottenham star as "on a different level", even more so than the likes of Didier Drogba and Thierry Henry.

Carlisle, an ex-Leeds United player and now a judge on the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award 2025 panel, recently singled out Keane as his toughest opponent during his time as a centre-half in the league.

While acknowledging Henry, Drogba and Dennis Bergkamp as formidable opponents, it was the Irish forward who gave the defender the most trouble on the pitch.

The former PFA chairman said: "I was blessed to come up against some of the best strikers the Premier League has ever seen.

"I defended against the likes of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Didier Drogba who were incredibly difficult, but there's one player that gave me the most trouble.

"That man was Robbie Keane. His footballing intelligence was magnificent. He would drop into places that I couldn't go, but also places that I couldn't leave him. He challenged me as a defender on a different level to anyone else I faced."

Keane had stints at various Premier League clubs, including Liverpool and Leeds United, but it was at Spurs where the Irish striker truly excelled.

He made 306 professional appearances for the Lilywhites, netting 122 goals and providing 43 assists, and clinching the League Cup in 2008.

Highlighting about the former striker's intelligence, Carlisle said: "I knew how to handle players that were particularly quick or strong, but when someone is so clever like Robbie, they're asking cerebral footballing questions, that's not what I was good at.

"If it moved, I kicked it, if it didn't move, I kicked it until it did! He challenged me on a level I hadn't been exposed to before, but that's not to say other Premier League strikers weren't like that.

"Henry used to always drift to the left and come in from my blind side, but that was a standard action that strikers do, which I knew how to manage.

"Keane was so ridiculously clever, he tore me apart."

Tottenham suffer Harry Kane transfer blow as he makes Barcelona stance clear

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Tottenham suffer Harry Kane transfer blow as he makes Barcelona stance clear - Football London
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Barcelona have shortlisted Harry Kane as an option to replace Robert Lewandowski, with the former Spurs star's £57million release clause due to activate in the next summer transfer window

Harry Kane is considering a sensational move to Barcelona in a blow to Tottenham's chances of re-signing him. Kane, 32, has enjoyed a lightning-fast start to the season for Bayern Munich, scoring a remarkable 22 goals in just 15 games.

But the England captain's long-term future with Germany is in doubt. Kane's contract with the Bundesliga champions runs until 2027 but contains a €65m (£57million) release clause which will become active next summer.

Premier League clubs, including Spurs, are on alert, with Thomas Frank already on record to say that he'd be welcome back. But so too are Barcelona, as Robert Lewandowski's contract is set to expire next June.

Barca's primary target is Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez, although Kane has emerged as a serious contender and would reportedly be open to joining the La Liga giants. According to Catalan publication Sport, the striker is contemplating a move to Barcelona but won't make a decision on his future until towards the end of this season.

Barcelona could match what Kane currently earns at Bayern but are wary of interest from other clubs. Tottenham are said to be desperate to bring him back to North London and crucially have first refusal on his release clause.

The 32-year-old, however, poured cold water on talk of returning to the Premier League next summer during the recent international break, as he's loving life with Bayern. "In terms of staying there longer, I could definitely see that," Kane revealed.

"I have not had those conversations with Bayern yet but if they were to arise I would be willing to talk and have an honest conversation. Obviously, it depends on how the next year or so goes and what we achieve together.

"Right now, I would say we are in a fantastic moment and I am not thinking about anything else. In terms of the Premier League, I don't know.

"If you had asked me when I first left to go to Bayern, I would have said for sure I would come back. Now I have been there a couple of years, I would probably say that has gone down a little bit, not so much, but I wouldn't say I would never go back.

"What I have learnt in my career is that different opportunities and different timings happen and things fall in place. Going back to my first point with Bayern right now, I am fully all in with Bayern."

Speaking at a fans' forum a few days after Kane's comments, Frank was asked about signing Kane as well as Ivan Toney, who he previously managed at Brentford. "Let's put it this way, they're two very, very good players, both of them," Frank replied.

"Harry Kane is a legend. I said in the press conference the other day, if he wants to come back he's more than welcome."

Thomas Frank sent clear £30m Tottenham transfer message

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Thomas Frank sent clear £30m Tottenham transfer message - Football London
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Igor Thiago has been in red-hot form for Brentford this season, and Thomas Frank is keen to sign the Brazilian - but the Bees have no intention of selling

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has been warned to abandon his pursuit of Igor Thiago, with Brentford determined to keep hold of their prized asset.

Frank is eager to strengthen his attacking ranks and has reportedly identified Brentford forward Thiago as a prime target. The Brazilian has enjoyed a blistering start to the campaign, netting seven times in merely 11 outings across all competitions.

This form has caught Frank's attention, having previously brought Thiago to Brentford during his tenure as manager in a £30million switch from Club Brugge. Frank believes Thiago could lead his side's frontline for the foreseeable future and prove a massive hit at the north London outfit, reports the Mirror.

However, Brentford remain steadfast in their refusal to part with Thiago, making it abundantly clear to all suitors that the 24-year-old is not available.Thiago arrived at Brentford during the summer of 2024 as Ivan Toney's replacement, following the latter's departure to the Saudi Pro League. Yet he featured in only eight matches last term due to a severe knee injury.

Aston Villa and Newcastle have also monitored Thiago's progress, though Brentford boss Keith Andrews was emphatic that no departure would be permitted. "I've said over the past few weeks, I was really happy when the last transfer window closed," he declared ahead of the Bees' clash with Crystal Palace on Saturday.

"We're not even in November, so I'm not going to talk about a transfer window that is two months away, that will inevitably come closer to the time. Thiago is going absolutely nowhere, absolutely nowhere, he's a pivotal part of this football club, he doesn't want to go anywhere, that won't be happening."

Thiago has been shortlisted for the Premier League Player of the Month for October, and Andrews was questioned on whether he could emulate Bryan Mbeumo's feat of netting 20 league goals this season. "I think he wants more, that's what I'm hearing!" he responded. "He's clearly in a very good place, great rhythm in his game, playing with confidence, enjoying life. He's been a critical part of what we've done. It's nice to hear that he's been nominated, because he deserves it."

Andrews added: "He's already shown he can be a top performer in the Premier League. He gives the opposition a headache, the way he plays the game. I'm not sure many players will relish playing against him.

"He's very demanding of himself. Some players you have to push and some players you have to rein in - he's definitely the latter. He's in a great place and we want to keep him there. He's very, very determined to achieve things; as a team, first and foremost, but, by doing that, he will also achieve things as an individual.

"It's the selfless way he approaches games, you see how hard he works for the team, and then, from that, his goals, different types of goals. He's really settled into a groove and his team-mates are loving playing with him.

"It's just been about getting him into that rhythm and building those relationships, which I constantly speak about. We've been seeing that a lot more often in recent weeks."

Guglielmo Vicario exposes brutal Tottenham reality after Chelsea loss

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Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has given a scathing verdict of his side's 1-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday

Guglielmo Vicario has warned Tottenham need to do some soul-searching before the visit of Copenhagen. Spurs, who recorded their lowest-ever Premier League xG (0.05) against Chelsea, also play Manchester United, Arsenal and PSG in their next four outings.

Vicario accepts there is no sugarcoating how bad Tottenham were against the Blues, stating: "It's tough to accept but this is the reality of today's game. We need to look inside us and we need to do more because when you play for this club, we have to do things at 100 per cent.

"I know it's tough but we have to do that every single day." In the past year, Spurs have won just four Premier League games on home soil and the scoreline would have been more humbling had it not been for Vicario's eight saves.

He added on the Tottenham dressing room: "When you go inside it's tough to accept because you expect yourself to perform at your best, with a lot of energy but something today didn't go in the right direction.

"Everyone knows that personally, we have to do a little bit more if we want to achieve good results, make everyone happy and make ourselves happy. Today is a bad day for us, we didn't perform at our best level."

Thomas Frank was extremely disappointed with the performance and the result at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with the Dane insisting his side deserved to lose. "We all sense the frustration and the emotions," he said.

"That is part of football. It is extremely painful and of course that is part of the job to face you guys now and answer the very good questions when you just are burning inside. And you like to find solutions, watch the game back and see what went wrong, but I think it’s about trying to stay calm. In general, I think Chelsea were good and we were definitely second best.

"We performed badly. I think we lacked energy and intensity and that freshness we didn’t have that. Then I think the high pressure they came with, I don’t think we solved it well enough even though we worked on it, so that we need to keep working on. I think our high pressure, we lacked a little bit in the beginning until we got on top of it and then they went up 1-0 and we are chasing. Then it’s a bad circle where we are chasing, lacking intensity and energy and bad decisions."

What angry Thomas Frank did after 34 minutes in Chelsea loss speaks volumes of Tottenham problems

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What angry Thomas Frank did after 34 minutes in Chelsea loss speaks volumes of Tottenham problems - Football London
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Tottenham were beaten 1-0 by Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon as Thomas Frank's side put in a poor performance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Winning the Europa League was meant to be a turning point in Tottenham's history. Yet aside from changing managers and Daniel Levy's surprising exit, little has genuinely shifted in N17 since that magical evening in Bilbao.

Indeed, in both of Ange Postecoglou's previous home Premier League clashes with Chelsea, Spurs had taken the lead and troubled their opponents in two thrilling, high-scoring encounters. On this occasion they scarcely troubled the Blues and managed only one effort on target in what was among the most straightforward 1-0 victories you could witness.

When Tottenham announced Thomas Frank as their new manager in June, the club hailed him as "one of the most progressive and innovative head coaches within the game". Beyond enhancing their set-piece delivery, there's been precious little to celebrate and the football lacks any real spark.

Spurs were jeered off the pitch and it spoke volumes that as the team pressed for an equaliser during added time, supporters were already streaming towards the exits, reports the Mirror.

Tottenham are without eight senior players due to injury, several of whom possess considerable ability, yet that offers no mitigation as this squad appears devoid of creativity.

It reflects poorly on the Premier League that this Spurs outfit began the weekend sitting third in the table, having now claimed victory in merely three of their last 19 league fixtures. Remarkably, Tottenham have secured more away points (13) than any other Premier League team this season.

However, only Nottingham Forest, Wolves and West Ham - the current bottom three - have fewer home points than Spurs (four). With upcoming fixtures against a resurgent Manchester United, Arsenal and PSG, things could turn rather sour for Frank if he doesn't manage to halt this downward spiral soon.

Frank is not known for losing his temper, but when Chelsea were handed a 34th-minute lead, he furiously slammed a water bottle and stormed back to his seat. It's hard to fault him, as it was a clear case of self-destruction from Spurs.

Firstly, Djed Spence attempted a futile drag back, followed by Xavi Simons' feeble pass to Micky van de Ven which fell short. Instead of simply clearing the ball, the Dutchman tried to take on Moises Caicedo.

Joao Pedro gratefully capitalised on the situation, scoring after excellent work from the Ecuadorian midfielder. But let's be clear, this was farcical defending at any level, especially in a hotly contested London derby.

Mohammed Kudus was the silver lining for Tottenham. Aside from the Ghanaian's determined dribbling and two long-range attempts in the first half, Spurs were dismal to watch.

It was difficult to discern what their game plan was, as they seemed incapable of breaking down Chelsea's defensive formation. Simons, who came on for Lucas Bergvall after just seven minutes, struggled to make an impact on the left flank for Tottenham in a match where he had much to prove against a side that had shown keen interest in signing him during the summer.

When Simons was substituted following a reckless challenge on Alejandro Garnacho, it seemed to justify Chelsea's decision to avoid a high-profile transfer deal. Tottenham's left side, comprised of two right-footed players in Simons and Spence, was all too predictable, while a threatening Chelsea side looked set to cause chaos with every rapid counter-attack.

Had Enzo Maresca's Club World Cup champions been more clinical, they could have run rampant given the numerous chances they squandered to increase their lead. Spurs were not only outclassed but also outmuscled, and even when they did manage to get a foot in, it was often ill-judged.

Rodrigo Bentancur could have seen red for a harsh tackle on Reece James, Kudus unnecessarily clattered into Marc Cucurella, and Spence left his mark on Enzo Fernandez.

Chelsea have now triumphed in 10 of their last 12 matches across all competitions against Tottenham. It has become one of their most straightforward fixtures, a fact that will be hard for Spurs fans to swallow.

Alan Shearer chooses sides after Thomas Frank snubbed by Tottenham stars vs Chelsea

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Tottenham Hotspur were second-best against Chelsea on Saturday night as they slumped to a dissapointing 1-0 defeat at rivals Chelsea in the Premier League

Alan Shearer has had his say on the reaction of Tottenham's players after Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Chelsea.

Enzo Maresca's side scored the only goal of the game 34 minutes in after sloppy play from the home team. First Djed Spence gave the ball away - before Spurs initially won it back - only for Xavi Simons to under-hit a pass to teammate Micky van de Ven and the Dutch defender lost it in trying to dribble past Moises Caicedo, who found Joao Pedro to score.

Tottenham barely created anything, other than a couple of Mohammed Kudus efforts before the break, and had goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario to thank for it not being a far heavier defeat on the night, making a string of saves, mostly from match-winner Pedro.

Spurs' players Spence and van der Ven opted not to join manager Thomas Frank in staying behind and clapping Tottenham fans after they were greeted by loud boos at the full-time whistle. They also refused to shake hands with their head coach - and Shearer had delivered his verdict on their post-match actions.

"They [Tottenham] were an embarrassment. They have been booed off the pitch," he said on BBC's Match of the Day (MOTD).

"I get they want to go out, they want to get off the pitch and they want to get in the dressing room and then say their sorries [apologies] later on.

"I get it and understand it. As much as Thomas Frank likes to go around and thank fans and clap them, I get the players' point-of-view that they've been absolutely awful and they want to get off the pitch as quick as possible."

Former Swansea City centre-back Ashley Williams, meanwhile, also shared a view that the Tottenham players' actions were nothing personal against their manager - despite him imploring them to stay behind and applaud.

He added: "I don't think it's... [a big issue]. Just play better - that's the main thing.

"You've played badly in a derby. You want to get back in the dressing room.

"They're frustrated. That's nothing to do or anything personal against the manager, or the fans. They just want to get inside."

For the latest news and breaking news, visit football.london. Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you for the capital's clubs.

Shining a light on all the issues fans really want to know about and providing rolling coverage of the latest news, football.london's writers give you the bigger picture on your club by knowing the little details inside-out.

Follow us on X @‌Football_LDN - for the all latet news as it happens in real time.