Football London

Thomas Frank will get into the nitty gritty of his new job as Tottenham head coach as this week comes to a close and he will have plenty on his to-do list.

The Dane will be back at Hotspur Way this week to prepare as the pre-season fixture programme begins with a match against Reading on July 19 with his first press conference as Tottenham boss expected before that. A trip to Luton comes on July 26 before the tour to Hong Kong and South Korea with games in Asia against Arsenal and Newcastle.

Harry Kane's Bayern Munich are the hosts on August 7 before Frank's first competitive encounter at the north London club arrives on August 13 with the UEFA Super Cup final against Champions League winners PSG in Udine. There is little time to recover as just a few days later and the Premier League season kicks off with Scott Parker's Burnley the visitors to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Before all of that begins, Frank must spend the 16 days ahead working through plenty of items on his to-do list.

Finalise and prepare his staff

The 51-year-old will now have a clear idea what his coaching staff is going to look like at Tottenham with the last few additional members set to be finalised and confirmed in the days ahead.

That Frank has brought his two right-hand men across from Brentford in Justin Cochrane and Chris Haslam will be a huge help in not starting from scratch at Tottenham. As with all managers, the work begins with the coaching staff preparing for those early pre-season training sessions before the players step back into the training ground.

So as with his predecessors, Frank and his staff will be at Hotspur Way on Friday preparing what the players will go through on the grass in the following days once they have completed their blood work and tests in the gym.

Get his message across

The reason that Frank and his coaches must be prepared to their utmost as the players start to return on Saturday is because they have to hit the ground running.

Spurs made a big decision in sacking the man who won them their first trophy in 17 years in order to bring in the Dane and that call will be scrutinised from the off, with even pre-season games overanalysed to the extreme, particularly with a north London derby tucked in there.

The problem for Frank is that he has been notoriously a slow starter in his past two jobs, taking a good eight to 10 games to get going at both Brentford and before that at Brondby with defeats aplenty.

He of course has learned and experience a lot since then, but he and his coaches need to move quickly and get his ideas across in the most direct of ways as the sooner Tottenham are playing the way he wants them to the better.

Meet the key players

While the first few players will return on Saturday, those players who had international games last month will start to file back into the training ground from next week.

That group of players will contain some key names that Frank will want to have conversations with like skipper Son Heung-min and vice-captain Cristian Romero, both of whom have uncertain futures at the club and will be waiting to hear face to face what Frank has in mind for them while delivering their own views on what they want to come next.

Frank has already met James Maddison but will also want to have a proper chat with Spurs' other vice-captain, while goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario will be another key figure for the Dane to get on his side early on.

Assess the returning loanees

With a new manager comes fresh chances and some of those fringe players under Ange Postecoglou might become key men under Frank. The same goes for the loan players returning to the club after seasons spent elsewhere.

football.london has previously reported that Spurs have been rebuffing early loan advances for the likes of Jamie Donley and Will Lankshear because Frank wants to take a good look at the youngsters before deciding if they head out again.

He will also want to look at players like Manor Solomon, Josh Keeley, Yang Min-hyeok, Alfie Devine, Ashley Phillips, Alfie Dorrington and George Abbott, although Bryan Gil and Alejo Veliz look like their futures have already been decided, barring a remarkable turnaround.

Sometimes players who were the wrong fit under a previous manager can suddenly look a different prospect under another and Frank will be wary of losing an unexpected gem for his system.

Transfer chats with Lange

While plenty of transfer chats will have already taken place between Frank and Spurs' technical director Johan Lange, despite the lack of new players coming into the club so far, there will be more to come as the head coach expands his knowledge of the squad at his disposal while working up close and personal with the players.

Frank needs to assess certain areas of his squad and decide who the club need to move on and in which departments he does and doesn't need new faces.

Lange knows the new Tottenham head coach well, the two having a long history together which began with sharing an office together at Danish side Lyngby. He will have plenty of ideas about what Frank needs but ultimately only the new man at the helm can make those final decisions.

Mohammed Kudus is in the headlines right now regarding a potential transfer away from West Ham. Joining the Hammers from Ajax two years ago, the versatile attacker has been linked with a switch across the capital to either Tottenham or Chelsea.

Tottenham need to upgrade their options in the final third and Kudus is one of a number of players of interest to Thomas Frank's team ahead of the new season. Across the capital at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea have been very busy in the transfer market after confirming deals for Liam Delap, Dario Essugo, Mamadou Sarr and Joao Pedro.

Jamie Gittens will become summer addition No.5 once his £55million move from Borussia Dortmund is finalised. Despite adding to their attacking options, and with Estevao Willian to join Chelsea once his participation at the FIFA Club World Cup with Palmeiras is over, the Blues may not be done in terms of new attacking players just yet.

football.london understands that Chelsea have not ruled out making a move for Kudus despite confirming the signing of Pedro from Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday afternoon. So should Kudus head to Tottenham or Chelsea if he is to leave West Ham this summer? football.london's football writers have had their say below:

Rob Guest

I would be picking Tottenham over Chelsea if I was in Kudus' position this summer. His versatility is a huge bonus, and so is his Champions League experience, and there's a very good chance Thomas Frank could bring even more out of his game.

The Dane has a great record of extracting the very best from his players and Spurs fans could see a different side to Kudus after his struggles at West Ham last season. Given the amount of attacking options Chelsea have at their disposal, there's probably a better chance he features regularly for Spurs.

After all, it's highly unlikely Spurs would splash a big amount of a money on a player for him to be sat on the bench most weeks. Tottenham and West Ham very rarely do deals, though, but they could come to an agreement here if the Hammers need to bring in some money this summer, which in turn could see Spurs get a good deal for the 24-year-old.

Kieran Horn

Kudus would be a great signing for Tottenham and for one clear reason, he is better off joining Thomas Frank's side than Chelsea.

It is surprising to see the Blues still being linked with attackers having announced the signings of Joao Pedro and Liam Delap and agreed to sign Jamie Gittens. Already at the club is Noni Madueke and Pedro Neto, two very direct left-footed wingers and trying to sign a third would just be excessive.

Tottenham do have Dejan Kulusevski on their books but he is a very different profile in comparison to Kudus. Both clubs are in the Champions League while also having won trophies during the 2024/25 season which means there is unlikely to be a team he favours because of the competitions they are in.

However, Enzo Maresca's side are certainly in a better position to enjoy prolonged success but Kudus would be afforded more minutes in north London while also not having to worry about his future with the likes of Christopher Nkunku and Joao Felix set to be moved on after making just 12 Premier League starts between them in the last two years.

Alasdair Gold

Mohammed Kudus certainly has plenty of ability and he fits into Tottenham's regular transfer profile of being able to play in various positions.

Spurs like a Swiss Army Knife-type of player - or Swiss Archie Knife in terms of one of last summer's signings - and Kudus will provide quality across the three behind the front man in a 4-2-3-1 and provide another striker option when called upon.

The big question mark would be consistency and last season was not a good one for the 24-year-old for various reasons and he will need to prove that he hasn't been found out by Premier League defences. He will need to provide far more goals and assists. There's no comparison between his goal involvements when it comes to the likes of Brennan Johnson and Son Heung-min.

However, the quality is there and if Spurs could get the Kudus from season one under Thomas Frank then he would be more than worth the money and the competition in attacking areas in the Dane's squad would jump up.

Deals between Tottenham and West Ham are rare things and haven't happened since 2011 but with the Hammers desperate for funds this might just mark the return of positive transfer talks between the two London clubs.

Unless Lange has a better option up his sleeve, a Premier League and Champions League-experienced player in Kudus would be an impressive addition to the squad.

Sam Truelove

Kudus could quickly get lost at Chelsea if he does make the move to Stamford Bridge. Enzo Maresca already has a number of options in the forward line, with Liam Delap and Joao Pedro joining this summer. Jamie Gittens is expected to follow soon, so I'm not even sure where Kudus fits in.

Tottenham, on the other hand, could be the ideal move for the 24-year-old. Capable of playing on either wing, in the No.10 or as a striker, Kudus would be a decent option for Thomas Frank. He's electric and not afraid to take on his man, which could suit Frank's style of play.

I would still prefer the Lilywhites to sign Eberechi Eze, but it may be easier to get Kudus out of West Ham so don't be surprised if this deal happens fairly quickly over the coming weeks.

Tottenham player James Maddison has paid tribute to Diogo Jota on social media following the Liverpool star's tragic death. The Portuguese international died along with his younger brother, Andre Silva, in a car crash in northern Spain in the early hours of Thursday morning.

“Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota,” read a Liverpool statement. “The club have been informed the 28-year-old has passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, Andre.

“Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre’s family, friends, team-mates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss. We will continue to provide them with our full support.”

Following the heartbreaking update from Liverpool, Tottenham released their own statement after the sad news that has sent shockwaves throughout football. The statement read: "Everyone at Tottenham Hotspur is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Diogo Jota. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family, friends and all at Liverpool Football Club at this incredibly difficult time."

A number of Tottenham players have since taken to their social media accounts to pay tribute to the Liverpool Premier League title winner. James Maddison was one of those as he penned two classy messages on his Instagram Stories.

"Oh Diogo. So soooo sad. Honestly devastating," wrote Maddison. "Sending all the love I possess from me and my family to your wife and your family. Rest in peace Diogo & Andre."

He added: "Such an unbelievable player as well and lovely guy to go with it. Can't even believe it."

Maddison wasn't the only one to send his condolences as Richarlison also did likewise with a lengthy Instagram post.

"Diogo has always been a great opponent, a talented and respectful player on the pitch. We are all devastated by your departure," wrote the Brazilian

"My condolences to families, friends and all the fans, especially Liverpool, Portugal and all other clubs where you passed and left your mark. May God receive Diogo and his brother Andre in all his glory. May you rest in peace."

Thomas Frank has the opportunity to win silverware in his first competitive game as Tottenham head coach. Ahead of the team's Premier League opener against Burnley on Saturday, August 16, Spurs play PSG three days earlier in the UEFA Super Cup final as a result of their Europa League triumph.

Tottenham will then return to the Champions League the following month for the first time since the 2022/23 season. The format of Europe's premier competition has changed since their last appearance in the Champions League but they have already sampled it following their successful campaign in the new-look Europa League.

Spurs will be aiming to go as far as possible in the Champions League and hopefully spring a major surprise come the knockout phase. Key to that will be adding experience to the playing squad in the summer transfer window.

Having added youth to their numbers 12 months ago with Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and Wilson Odobert making the move to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, it is vital that Tottenham add some experienced pros to Frank's playing staff to help them succeed in the Premier League and the cup competitions they will be competing in. New additions with Champions League experience is also a transfer priority for the club, something which Ange Postecoglou made clear after Tottenham's final game of the 2024/25 campaign against Brighton & Hove Albion.

"If we do some good business in the transfer market, obviously brings some experience in, I'm not talking about age, I'm talking about players who have played at this level and can help the team, then I've got no doubt we can make the impact we want," outlined Postecoglou.

He added: "Not just us but any club that gets into the Champions League, I think understands that. It's the most elite competition in Europe and it's a great demand.

"So yeah, I think every club that gets into the Champions League sees it as an opportunity to strengthen with experience is the right word, but players who have played at that level, who are going to be comfortable at that level, not players who are stepping up to that level. That's the difference."

Tottenham's current squad is not exactly blessed with a lot of Champions League expertise. In terms of the club's starting XI, the likes of Guglielmo Vicario, Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie, James Maddison, Brennan Johnson and Bergvall have never played in the competition.

The same applies to Brandon Austin, Djed Spence, Yang Min-hyeok, Ashley Phillips, Alejo Veliz, Mikey Moore, Dane Scarlett, Gray and Odobert. Antonin Kinsky has also not played in the Champions League proper but has instead featured in four qualifiers.

In terms of those who have played in the competition, Son Heung-min leads the way on 55 appearances, Rodrigo Bentancur is on 37 and Ben Davies is third on 27. Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Dejan Kulusevski, Manor Solomon and Mathys Tel have each played Champions League football between 13 and 16 times.

Kevin Danso, Richarlison, Dominic Solanke, Yves Bissouma, Radu Dragusin and Pape Matar Sarr have played less than six games each in the competition, with the final two players on that list just managing a solitary appearance each. Aside from the eight players above who have played upwards of 13 Champions League games, there is a lack of know-how in the competition when you look at the Tottenham squad.

Signing players with Champions League experience is a priority for Tottenham this season. Postecoglou made his feelings on that subject clear in his final press conference as Tottenham boss and the club have to ensure his wish is granted for his successor Frank.

Former Tottenham midfielder Tanguy Ndombele will be hoping that successful groin surgery spells the end of a tough period in his career.

The 28-year-old officially left Spurs last summer following five difficult years in N17 after arriving from the now-relegated Lyon for a club record fee worth more than £60million in all. Ndombele played just 91 times over that half a decade at the north London side before having his contract mutually terminated last summer.

Nice snapped the Frenchman up on a two-year contract and it all appeared to be going reasonably well in the first half of his season back in France with 25 appearances, scoring twice and laying on two assists across 1,407 minutes of football. Little injuries did cause Ndombele problems though and he was constantly playing through muscle and hip problems and then in March came a sports hernia issue that ended his season prematurely.

It looked like good news when the midfielder was pictured this month back in early pre-season training with Nice, who finished fourth in Ligue 1 last season and will now take their place in the Champions League qualifiers in early August.

However the club confirmed this week that all was not well with the former Tottenham man and he had to go under the knife in a bid to fix a groin injury.

"Tanguy Ndombele underwent successful groin surgery on Tuesday," read a statement. "The OGC Nice midfielder will now follow an adapted recovery protocol, accompanied by the club’s medical staff. The club offers him all its support and wishes him a full and speedy recovery."

Once he recovers Ndombele will be hoping to finally get his career back on track after showing some promising glimpses in the first half of last season back in his homeland.

Tottenham have paid tribute to Diogo Jota following the Liverpool player's tragic death at the age of 28. Jota's death was confirmed on Thursday morning following a car accident in northern Spain.

Jota's brother Andre Silva also tragically lost his life in the incident. The sad news has resulted in an outpouring of emotion across the globe, with Tottenham duly sending their condolences to Jota's friends, family and all at Liverpool Football Club.

"Everyone at Tottenham Hotspur is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Diogo Jota," said a Tottenham statement on X. "Our thoughts and condolences are with his family, friends and all at Liverpool Football Club at this incredibly difficult time."

Following the news that first emerged from Spain, Liverpool released a heartfelt statement confirming the passing of their player.

"Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota," read the statement. "The club have been informed the 28-year-old has passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, Andre.

"Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre’s family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss.

"We will continue to provide them with our full support."

Tottenham must use the summer transfer window to strengthen their squad in a number of areas ahead of the 2025/2026 season. Mathys Tel is the only player to have sealed permanent move to Spurs thus far - and that has been the case for nearly two-and-a-half weeks.

Despite the France U21 international adding depth in attack, the Lilywhites are in need of further reinforcements across their frontline even if club captain Son Heung-min remains at the club.

Defensive signings may also be needed if Cristian Romero leaves but - regardless of movement in midfield - Spurs need to sign a No.6. Because of how important that position has become and the requirements needed to perform well in the role, there are minimal options for Tottenham.

There are certainly some that do come close to the profile, though, while sticking to the club's approach of signing young and talented players, the perfect one may be clear. With all of that being said, football.london has had a go at picking out some signings and making decisions on other players linked.

Kudus transfer completed

After losing out on Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United while backing off over a move for Crystal Palace starlet Eberechi Eze, Tottenham appear to have set their sights firmly on West Ham's Mohammed Kudus.

Talk of an opening bid in the region of £50million has been prominent with it believed the Hammers rejected that as they hold out for £65m. Talks with his representatives have started, and the player is open to joining with it the first time in nearly 15 years that a switch between Spurs and West Ham could go ahead.

The Ghana international would give Tottenham a very different option on the right and his versatility also allows him to play as a 'false 9' if required.

£20m Bissouma replacement

Though he was excellent for the final three games of Tottenham's Europa League-winning campaign, it is time for Yves Bissouma to move on.

Since his red card at Luton Town back in October 2023, he has seriously struggled for consistency and with Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall better No.8s, it is worth sacrificing him for a proper defensive midfielder. Christian Norgaard would have been perfect, despite being 31, but he is off to Arsenal.

As such, Spurs have had to look elsewhere and Sevilla's Lucien Agoume is their best bet. The 23-year-old is arguably better off the ball than on it with his tenacious tackling and ability to make interceptions seen in La Liga, but he also boasts strong numbers when it comes to progressive passes, particularly on the counter.

Arsenal and Man Utd have been linked but, as their priorities appear elsewhere, Tottenham can swoop in and sign him for just £20m (€23.4m) with Sevilla's financial situation seeing them in need of funds.

Simons decision

With James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski already at the club, the need for Xavi Simons as well seems unlikely. However, both players have struggled with injuries and for consistency which makes a third creative spark something that should be pursued.

RB Leipzig are likely to demand a sizeable fee with £67m (€80.4m) believed to be their asking price. Similarly to Kudus, the Netherlands international can play in several positions and considering how Tottenham will set up, it's very likely his versatility will be seen.

Mohammed Kudus could be the player to come in and give a different edge to Tottenham's attack under Thomas Frank. As part of the squad changes that have to take place ahead of the 2025/26 season, Spurs need to strengthen their options in the final third if they are to shoot themselves back up the Premier League table.

Mathys Tel has already turned his loan move from Bayern Munich into a permanent transfer and Spurs may see a better version of Wilson Odobert next season after an injury-hit first year in north London. Amid the possibility of captain Son Heung-min leaving Tottenham after ten years for a new challenge elsewhere, the Lilywhites have to add further options in attack as they have Champions League football to look forward to from September.

Players such as Bryan Mbeumo, Eberechi Eze and Antoine Semenyo have been linked with transfers to N17 but it would appear that Tottenham will miss out on all three. Mbeumo looks to be heading to Manchester United if he is to depart Brentford, football.london understands it is highly unlikely the club will make a summer transfer move to sign Eze, and Semenyo has just penned a new contract at Bournemouth.

That in turn could open the door for Kudus to be the incoming option out wide for Tottenham. The West Ham ace is one of a number of players of interest to Spurs when it comes to transfer incomings.

Kudus made an instant impression in the Premier League following his move from Ajax in the summer of 2023. Taking his place in David Moyes' West Ham attack, he scored 14 goals and chipped in with nine assists in his Premier League and Europa League outings.

Things just did not quite click for him last season and he ultimately struggled in the final third as the Hammers endured an incredibly frustrating campaign. However, a move to Tottenham and the opportunity to work under Frank could see him return to his best and even hit a new level altogether.

The Dane has an incredible record of improving his players and that's why his appointment in the Spurs hotseat could prove to be a very exciting one. Kudus may not be the transfer choice of many supporters considering the links with Mbeumo and Eze but a transfer to Tottenham would give Frank and the club an added benefit.

Ahead of their return to Champions League football after last playing in the competition during the 2022/23 season, Kudus does in fact have experience in Europe's premier competition to his name. Prior to his move to West Ham, the Ghanaian featured in nine Champions League games for Ajax, with his contribution in 2022/23 undoubtedly his most notable.

In six group games for the Dutch side he registered four goals and two assists. Kudus made an immediate mark in their group opener as they beat Rangers 4-0, scoring a stunning goal after turning James Tavernier moments after teeing up Steven Berghuis for the second goal of the contest.

He was to score in his next game as he found the top corner in style at the Kop in Ajax's late 2-1 defeat against Liverpool, before making it three goals in successive games in their 6-1 loss at home to Napoli. Kudus was to haunt Rangers in their final group fixture with another goal and assist in a 3-1 victory in Glasgow.

The winger's impressive record in Europe carried on in February following Ajax's drop down to the Europa League as he netted away at Union Berlin. That proved to be his last involvement in the competition for the Eredivisie giants that season following a 3-1 defeat on aggregate.

Add to the mix a hat-trick for Ajax in Europa League qualifying at the beginning of the following season and his five goals for West Ham in the competition the same campaign, Kudus appears to thrive in European games. Tottenham's squad is not exactly blessed with a lot of Champions League experience and the Ghana international's time in the competition could serve Spurs well if they are to sign him.

There are question marks over whether or not Kudus is the winger Tottenham need right now but one thing you cannot argue with is that he would give the team some much-needed Champions League experience. If he is to sign on over the coming weeks then the hope will be that he can reproduce his Ajax Champions League heroics from September onwards.

Micky van de Ven is already very familiar with Tottenham transfer target Mohammed Kudus after an altercation between the two during the 4-1 win over West Ham back in October.

With Thomas Frank now at the helm, Spurs have started formalising pursuits of their summer targets. With moves for Bryan Mbeumo, Antoine Semenyo and Eberechi Eze no longer being pursued for a number of reasons, focus is now firmly on Kudus.

In comparison to the three names above, Kudus struggled to contribute in the attacking third with just five goals scored and three assists picked up during the 2024/25 Premier League season.

One of those goals came against Spurs, but he was later shown a straight red card following a VAR review, which showed, after kicking Van de Ven while he was on the ground, he also pushed his hands into the face of the Dutchman.

Unsurprisingly, Van de Ven was far from pleased at his actions at the time and during a press conference just a few days later, he offered a clear verdict on the incident which actually saw both clubs fined.

"I had a duel with Mohammed Kudus and fell down on the ground," he said. I had a feeling that he kicked too much through the ball and hit me like three times. I was a bit mad and stood up and pushed him.

"Then he literally punched me, he punched me in the face and I went down. I didn't know what happened afterwards.

"That was the situation. If the FA say you need to get fined, it's not how I think about it. I think it should be a different situation."

If Kudus does seal a switch across London, it could be an awkward reunion with his new teammate. However, Cristian Romero and Richarlison clashed prior to the latter joining Tottenham and they merely shared a playful exchange when meeting.

To sign the Ghana international, Spurs will have to pay more than the £50million paid to Everton for Richarlison. Spurs will have to match their record transfer fee of £65million, which was paid to Bournemouth for Dominic Solanke just last summer.

Despite the fact he has an £85million release clause in his contract, the Hammers have set their demands much lower with their need for a financial boost clear. Talks are said to have progressed well with his representatives, but Chelsea could throw a spanner in the works.

Mario Vuskovic has revealed his brother, Tottenham defender Luka Vuskovic, "wouldn't say no" to a loan move to German side Hamburger SV. The Croatian youngster will meet his new Spurs teammates for the first time very soon as the players return for pre-season training at their Hotspur Way base.

Tottenham confirmed a deal for the highly-rated centre-back from Hajduk Split in September 2023 but it was always going to be ahead of the 2025/26 season when he would finally make the move to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as he was 16 years of age at the time. The 18-year-old has since spent time on loan at Polish side Radomiak Radom and Belgium outfit Westerlo over the past two seasons, notably making a huge impression at both clubs.

It is not yet clear how much of a part Vuskovic will play for Thomas Frank this season as at present he has a number of players ahead of him in the centre-back pecking order. The new Tottenham boss may want to keep him as part of his plans as they battle on four fronts but, of course, there is also the chance that he could depart on loan to gain some more first-team experience.

As his brother Mario is currently on Hamburg's books but unable to play at present due to a doping ban, Tottenham youngster Vuskovic has naturally been linked with a temporary switch to the Bundesliga club. Speaking in an interview with German publication Hamburger Abendblatt (via Sport Witness), his older brother was asked about the prospect of the teenager heading to Hamburg on loan.

“Luka loves HSV simply because the club and the fans always support me," he revealed. “When he witnessed the promotion party at the Volksparkstadion, he was impressed by how big the club is and how incredible the fans are.

"He would love to play for HSV and wouldn’t say no to an offer. In the end, however, Tottenham will decide what is best for his development.”

Vuskovic was in attendance when Hamburg finally won promotion back to the Bundesliga in May following a seven-year absence. The starlet joined his brother and family on the pitch as they celebrated a historic night for the football club.

"When the final whistle blew, my father, my brother, and I immediately went on the pitch," explained his sibiling. "The pitch was already packed with happy fans.

“The whole evening was a crazy experience. We went to the Nikki Tiger (a Hamburg nightclub) with the team, and I was back at the hotel by 5am. I’ll never forget the feelings from that night. It was truly perfect.”