Here's every single word the Tottenham Hotspur head coach said ahead of the Premier League match at Brentford on New Year's Day
Thomas Frank faced plenty of questions at his final press conference of 2025 before Tottenham kick off the new year with a Premier League clash at his former team Brentford.
Spurs ended the year on a high with the win at Crystal Palace on Sunday thanks to Archie Gray's first half header. Now 2026 will kick off with a game against Frank's old side as the north London outfit look to build on their victory rather than waste any momentum as they have with previous wins.
Frank gave an update on Lucas Bergvall, who left the pitch injured at Selhurst Park in the second half, and was asked again about Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski's recovery timeline.
With the January transfer window almost upon us, the Tottenham head coach was quizzed about the club's plans and the fact that Spurs have agreed a fee of around £35million with Crystal Palace to sell last season's top scorer Brennan Johnson, with the player yet to decide on his destination amid interest from other clubs, with Bournemouth also having made an approach.
Our Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold was among those putting the questions to Frank. Here's the full transcript from the press conference at Hotspur Way.
What's the latest team news, any issues?
No, everyone should be available.
What's the latest with Cristian Romero and the FA charge?
He's ready for the game tomorrow, as far as I know it's something that will be decided in early January.
How is Destiny Udogie doing?
He is running out there on the pitch, doing individual sessions on the pitch, so progressing going forwards, so that's good"
And the long-term absentees?
I promise you I'll mention when they are fully firing.
With Brennan Johnson, a fee has been agreed, are you happy to accept he may go?
Again, this is the third time I think I've got this question. There's rumours out there, in general I'll not comment on that, no matter if we want to sign or sell a player, or get a staff member in or out. I've no interest in commenting either way.
Is he still part of the squad for Thursday?
He contributed to a very good and important win against Crystal Palace. He trained very well today. I expect him fully to be available and able to play against Brentford.
With the January window, do you expect Spurs to be busy?
We are, we will be in the market. We are definitely interested in, if we can, strengthening the squad. We will do that, I've said it a few times before, that I think it's very important of course there are different types you can add to a squad. But the main bit is that we ones we add need to be the ones we really think can improve the team. And then, like normal, there can be outgoings if you want to try to make a sharp squad.
Are you looking forward to Thursday, will you allow yourself emotions or is it business as usual?
That one cannot be 'business as usual'. That is special. I don't think I have thought that much about a game where it's coming back to me. And I'm actually happy that I have those emotions, because that means it meant something to me, the nine years I spent at Brentford, almost seven as a head coach. Brentford Football Club, the fans, and especially the people that I worked closely with, have a special place in my heart. That's the longest time I have ever been in a club, and we achieved incredible things together. That is very, very special. First and foremost I need to be extremely focused to go right instead of left, when I come out to the stadium, that's the first thing! And it will be special when I arrive, just before the match starts. But of course when the first whistle goes there's only one aim, and that is doing everything I can, together with the team, to perform well and get three points.
Will it be a weird occasion going back to Brentford?
Yeah strange, I don’t know. I think, not strange, special, special in every aspect. It’s special because there is one job to do, I’m head coach for this fantastic club. I’m working night and day to do everything I can to improve the team and the club, and that is one aim, that I want to win the football match ahead of me, together with the team.
Then it is special to come back first time in front of all the fantastic Brentford fans and the players and the staff I know very well.
What did you learn from the reverse fixture?
I learned a few things. So, one that, I know we won the game, but before that and after here, you can see they're strong, they've done well. I think they're such a top example to follow for a lot of football people, what they have created.
In many ways, it's super, super good that they performed well. I'm happy for that because when you leave something, you want to make sure that hopefully the impact you had is sustainable.
The bit we built together, me and a lot of other people, because it's not only about me, built a very strong culture, very strong organisation, very strong structure, so they could hire from within an unexperienced head coach, but a good person, good football knowledgeable person in Keith and good leadership skills. Carry on with a lot of other good people in the organisation.
So basically, take me, four staff members, four key players, and they're still performing in the most competitive league in the world. That is very, very remarkable.
That's unbelievable. It's a bit like that, that I, on the flip side, want to create here in Tottenham, something unbelievable, strong culture, strong organisation, strong structure, so no matter what things happen, we are strong and stable. We can be strong and stable and consistent, you have a real chance to create something magical. That's the aim, what I want to do again here in Tottenham, and that's what they have done very well.
Brentford use a lot of data, is that something you want to bring to Tottenham?
I think these days every club has very good data. I think the scouting department that Rob and Johan Lange have built together here is very strong. I see a lot of similarities to what I saw in Brentford. So that's relatively even.
Of course, they have a bigger base also with Matthew's company behind it. I think what people didn't understand fully about Brentford was the real secret sauce was the people, was the culture that was built stronger and stronger year after year.
Can you give us an insight into where Brennan's head is at? He scored that massive goal for Tottenham, all those goals last season and now he's not getting in the team. How is he when you speak to him and is he part of your future plans?
As I said, Brennan is a very important player for us. Sometimes things change if another player comes in. Unfortunately, Kudus came in for him and played on the right side and has done well. So it's been a little bit more tricky to get enough starts. He started the season also quite well from the left.
I think Brennan has a lot of attributes. Very good running in behind, very good scoring goals. That's a good quality. So some of those key things is fantastic. Also working hard for the team, but you need more than just 11 players. That's the way it is. I think Brennan has been a top professional, is a top professional, trained well today. He's ready for two days' time.
The January transfer window does open in a couple of days' time, have you given the club a shopping list of what you want?
I think there's a few things you need to understand. The January window is the most difficult window. So I understand it's a window. Everyone is super excited, speaking about it. It will not stop after the 31st of January. That's the way it is. As I said, I can't highlight enough. We are in the market. We are prepared. We are working, but I also think it's super important, as I said before, every decision I take, or I take together with the other guys in terms of decision-making, is for the future of the club.
So there's no reason to sign a player if you don't think it's for the future of the club, if it is just helping a little bit the next six months. We need to build something sustainable that can be very strong and powerful. That journey takes time, and that journey needs to take good, clever decisions along the way.
That's maybe not 'wow', but good decisions that can make us more stable and more competitive and then we are from there. So we are there, but we'll see what's happening.
Can I just double-check if Lucas Bergvall is ok?
Lucas is okay. I am quite positive that he will be available. Of course, there's a small doubt, but it's quite possible that he will be available.
If Brennan were to leave, it would be three years in a row that Tottenham have sold their top scorer from the previous season, with Kane and then Son. How difficult is it for a club to keep replacing those goals each season?
Goals are very important and they're very difficult to find. There's no two ways about that. That's very important. So it's important that how can we make sure we have enough goals in the team and players that can score goals. That's the key thing.
That's, of course, also what we are looking after to try to improve. I think the positive bits from this season so far is to think Richy has done well and been fit and available for more than almost eight months since we started.
But we need to have enough players with goals. Both developing them, but also finding players that can score goals for the future.
Radu Dragusin came back and played his part at Palace after so long out, firstly how important for him to come back and secondly there has been rumours about him leaving. Does he need to get minutes somewhere?
Right now, I am just so happy to see him come onto the pitch. Being out for what nine months or 10 months? So for him it is a massive step to step onto the pitch that he miss so much. For me that is the most important thing. I also spoke to you guys about a month or six weeks ago that he needed more training, he needed more game minutes with the Under-21s and he progressively got better and more and more fit. It is all about that and regarding rumours, rumours are rumours.
An incoming young striker for January is Mason Melia. He has played almost 100 professional senior games, so is he someone you will look at first or will he go into the U21s?
No, we need him in the club first on the first of January. There are a lot of moving parts and then when we know all the moving parts, we’ll take the final decision on what we’re doing.
In 2025 Tottenham have played 37 Premier League games and only won 11 of them. What is your assessment of their record?
Probably not the greatest record, isn’t that fair to say? What can I say, I have been involved in half of them, or something like that, so that is the bit I can assess. I think for a club of Tottenham’s stature, we need to win more than 11 out of 37 games. I also said when I came in from the beginning, this is part of a longer, longer journey and there is not a quick fix. We are doing everything we can to improve things and make sure things get better bit by bit. Alongside we are playing Champions League, which we are very happy with and that is where we’re aiming to be every year if possible.
What in your view is the path or plan to winning games more often in 2026?
I think slowly bit by bit adding those layers where we are competitive in the games for example where not everything is perfect. I think that was a big step against Crystal Palace. It was a beautiful, ugly win. To go away to a very difficult away ground and win 1-0, it is definitely a quality you need to have if you want to achieve something big because one thing for sure is you will not going to play 38 perfect games. You play at least, at least 10 shit games and can you win three or four of them 1-0 on a rainy day?
That is a lot of quality in that and then the next bit is we need to be better on the player. For example that was not the best game on the ball against Crystal Palace. That is one area we are working very hard on and also being a more offensive threat. That we are also working on but for that game it is also fair to say we are still without Xavi, Maddison, Kulusevski and Solanke. Some of our most creative players and others are stepping up to help the team, but that is also part of it.
