Here's every single word the Tottenham Hotspur boss said after the defeat at Old Trafford against Manchester United on Saturday
Cristian Romero was again the main talking point for Tottenham boss Thomas Frank after the 2-0 defeat at Manchester United in the Premier League on Saturday.
Both sides had half chances in the first period with Spurs enjoying a bright spell but the key moment came on 29 minutes when Romero caught Casemiro on the ankle with his studs after a high follow through. The Tottenham captain was shown a straight red card and will now miss the next four games in his fourth suspension of the season with a fifth for accumulated yellow cards looming.
United pressed home their numerical advantage just nine minutes later with the away side asleep from a short corner that was worked to Bryan Mbeumo on the edge of the box and he was unmarked to sweep the ball into the far right corner.
Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario was called into action with numerous saves and the 10-man visitors lost Destiny Udogie to another injury.
With the away side starting to tire, Frank made three changes to try to find a leveller but the team immediately lost their defensive discipline allowing United to score a second. Diogo Dalot hit a deep cross that Bruno Fernandes steered it into the far corner.
Our Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold was among those putting the questions to Frank after the game. Here's the full transcript from the press conference at Old Trafford.
It's a game that hinged on one moment, what did you make of the red card?
First, I think we started the 30 minutes well. I think it was a good away performance. Very even against a Man United team in flow and playing with confidence. So happy with that. Of course, the red card changed the momentum. Very proud of the players in general, but proud of them in the last 60 plus, whatever, 10 injury minutes, how they showed resilience, stayed in the game, didn't crumble, kept fighting, and still created some moments where we could maybe have created that goal.
Then of course, when we then did the three positive subs with 15-20 minutes to go, they scored straight after. The red card is the red card. I watched it now back five times, you know. Cuti clearly tried to go for the ball. Unfortunately, it just moved before and then there's the red card.
It's Romero's fourth suspension of the season, you'll lose him for four games and he's close to a fifth suspension for yellow cards, how do you take out the recklessness while keeping the aggression?
I think if you look at how many red cards he has had, it's not like he had that many throughout his career. You know, you play with passion and you play with aggression. And there's a fine line when you do that.
He's got the most red cards of all Premier League players since he arrived at the club...
At the club? Yeah, but not in the Premier League.
Of all Premier League players, I think...
Of Premier League players? OK, I didn't know that.
Can I ask, just about Destiny Udogie's injury is it his hamstring?
We will assess him tomorrow. So, of course, I will probably see you guys in, what, two days' time or less, and then we'll know more. We'll assess him tomorrow.
Cristian's red card obviously comes a few days after what happened after the transfer window with his post, is there any regret in making him the captain?
No, there's not. And also, he was sorry for the incident, he apologised to his team-mates in the changing room. No, I think he's one of the most important players, and I think when he performs top, he's driving the team.
Is there any thought of taking the captaincy away from him and giving it to someone calmer?
I think it’s fair to say I don’t think he had any intention to get a red card after 28 minutes.
Does it make it worse if he doesn’t know what he is doing?
Ah, I think that is your perception.
You’re not going to consider taking the armband from him?
No.
How do you keep the team motivated and convinced things will get better with injuries and red cards piling up?
I think with the players and what they are showing I think they are showing a lot of resilience because it’s very, very tough to get out there every week and not get enough of the good results. But I think of course we can’t run away from that we haven’t won enough in the Premier League. We are just coming off the back of four good games where we also showed a lot of resilience. Before that we also did it but we didn’t get enough of the results where we turned it around second half.
So I think there is still a lot to hang the hat on in terms of resilience but of course the performances need to be backed up with a little bit do more and a little bit doing the right things and then the results will turn.
You talking about getting a 'sugar hit' as a reward after working hard. Are you and the players getting enough sugar to keep believing and going?
I think there is no other alternative but to keep going it is fair to say. Which we will do of course. But of course in life and football there are very tough times. And in the very tough times you know there is ‘head up, head down, stand up, face it, keep going.’ There is no other way. That is what the players are doing. I think they show it every single week and the good thing is actually there was (Borussia) Dortmund and (Eintracht) Frankfurt two good performances and results. Second half very good against (Manchester) City. There was more positive against Burnley I know we wanted to win it. I think the resilience the players showed today in terms of… you know it is so easy to crumble. So easy to go out there and lose 5-0. But they stayed in the game throughout, had a chance to come back into it so think they showed a lot.
You are defending Romero but he has let you down. What has he said to you?
We haven’t spoken specifically about this situation because he apologised to the players, to us, to the team in there. That’s enough for me for now. And then, how can you say, that’s it. Nothing more to do for now.
He can’t play until the middle of March. It’s not helpful?
Nope. It doesn’t (help).
