Football London

Romero's forfeit, Sarr pushing him over and why Thomas Frank laughed at Tottenham captain

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Romero's forfeit, Sarr pushing him over and why Thomas Frank laughed at Tottenham captain - Football London
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The Tottenham players were in high spirits in training on Monday afternoon ahead of the Champions League clash with Villarreal.

Thomas Frank and his coaching staff led the Spurs squad through their work in preparation for the opening European fixture on Tuesday but there was plenty of time for laughter in the more relaxed moments of the session at the club's Hotspur Way training complex in Enfield with the Dane playing his part in instigating it.

The training session, which took place in driving rain for periods, was open for the media to observe for 15 minutes as the players went through a couple of different drills.

Here are some different things we spotted during the period of time we got to watch the training session at Hotspur Way.

Who was missing?

The main first team players missing from the session were Dominic Solanke and Kota Takai in terms of those who were meant to be close to returning but clearly are not yet.

Some of the longer term injured players could be seen continuing to work on their rehabilitation in the gym, including James Maddison, who stood against the window and looked out forlornly at one point, as well as Dejan Kulusevski and Yves Bissouma.

During the media's time around the training pitches, neither Solanke nor Takai could be spotted either on the pitch or in the big glass-sided gym.

There were also a group of young academy players who appeared later in the session and were taken by first team pathway coach Stuart Lewis to do some work on a separate pitch.

Dragusin's different plan

One of the players who was involved but isn't registered to play tomorrow was Radu Dragusin. The big Romanian has recently returned to training after eight months out with the anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered against Elfsborg in the Europa League in January.

While the centre-back took part in certain elements of training, he was taken out of the group when they started a big rondo featuring slide tackles and high energy pressing. Dragusin didn't look delighted about being taken away but threw himself into some individual drills with one of the sports science staff on a separate pitch before re-joining the group as the reporters' time watching ended.

What they did

This was only a snapshot of training and the media had to wait briefly before entering the pitch area to allow Frank to finish off some tactical work with his Spurs players.

What the reporters got to see was passing drills and a very energetic rondo with players sliding in, including Lucas Bergvall flying into a challenge in the rain towards Joao Palhinha that thankfully stopped just short of the jumping Portuguese.

It might just have brought a flashback for the summer signing after Thomas Soucek's lunge on Saturday which resulted in a red card for the West Ham midfielder.

Romero fun

The Tottenham captain was often at the centre of the fun in the rondo section of the training session. He spent various periods in the middle and rather than being the one bringing the aggressive moves, he occasionally found himself on the end of them.

Pape Matar Sarr launched towards Romero at one point and after the ball had gone pushed his skipper from behind over and on to the wet grass. The media were all expecting a reaction but with Sarr someone Romero is often grabbing and teasing, similar to the Senegal midfielder's relationship with Richarlison, the Argentine just sat up and grinned at his team-mate.

There were plenty of flicks and tricks during the rondo but it did result in a punishment for the club captain.

Romero's punishment

Whatever the reason, perhaps for having to go into the middle of the rondo more than others, Romero had to complete a set of push-ups as a punishment afterwards with Frank watching very closely and counting as did some of his team-mates.

They were not the perfect set of push-ups but the rain-soaked Argentine got away with them and when he got up from the ground his head coach was laughing loudly and the pair hugged for a little while before walking off arm in arm for a spell.

Cristian Romero and Thomas Frank press conference LIVE

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Cristian Romero and Thomas Frank press conference LIVE - Tottenham duo on Champions League return - Football London
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Cristian Romero and Thomas Frank are holding a joint press conference on Monday afternoon ahead of Tottenham's return to the Champions League and their clash with Villarreal.

It marks the first press conference the Argentine centre-back has done since arriving at Spurs in 2021 and it comes after Romero was made captain and signed a new four-year deal this summer after a transfer window in which he was initially linked with a move to Atletico Madrid before committing his long-term future to the north London club.

It is the tradition that the captain does the first European press conference of the season and that will bring the World Cup winner in front of reporters after a positive start to the campaign under Frank with three wins out of four from the opening Premier League fixtures with just one goal conceded and eight scored.

Our Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold is among those putting the questions to the pair ahead of the Champions League match against the La Liga side on Tuesday night. Scroll down for his latest updates from Monday's press conference at Hotspur Way.

Thomas Frank's admission on Mathys Tel speaks volumes after brutal Tottenham snub

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Thomas Frank's admission on Mathys Tel speaks volumes after brutal Tottenham snub - Football London
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Thomas Frank has hailed the "very impressive" Mathys Tel after bouncing back from his Champions League snub to help Tottenham to a comprehensive 3-0 win at West Ham.

Tel, 20, who spent the second half of last season at Spurs before completing a £30 million permanent move from Bayern Munich in the summer, was informed that he had been left out of their squad for Europe's elite club competition earlier this week.

Frank had to trim his contingent from 25 to 22 due to a lack of club-trained players and Tel was among them to be cut ahead of Tuesday's clash with Villarreal, along with Radu Dragusin, Yves Bissouma, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Kota Takai.

Despite this, Frank named Tel in his starting XI to face West Ham on Saturday. The France Under 21s international began as the centre forward, with Xavi Simons on the left and Mohammed Kudus on the other side.

While Tel's performance was not "through the roof", Frank was in awe of his work-rate and pressing having been denied a place in Tottenham's Champions League squad until at least February.

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Frank said: "I think Mathys...very impressive, the performance was maybe not through the roof, but it was very solid, I would say 7/10, worked hard, pressing, constant pressing, and that's very good also. You know he's not in the Champions League squad. I'm very happy with the squad."

Tottenham ran out comfortable winners at the London Stadium, with Pape Matar Sarr, Lucas Bergvall and Micky van de Ven finding the back of the net. In truth, it could have been more for Spurs, who registered more shots, more shots on target and more clear-cut chances than their opponents.

"I think the first 15 to 20 minutes was even, not too much happened, but then I think we really grew into it and the last 20 or 25, something like that, I think we dominated and created a lot of good opportunities without having too many big, big chances," Frank added.

"We had really a lot of dangerous situations and we know in football sometimes it's also about getting closer and closer and closer and then suddenly there's that opening where you can score.

"West Ham defended very well first half. It was difficult to get the clear-cut chances, but when we got it to Xavi and Mo on the sides and played and run, produced crosses, you know, either in-swing or overlap and so on, and a lot of corners where we also were very dangerous.

"So, happy that the goal came second half because you never know, the momentum can change after half-time but we kept going and scored a good goal after and then 3-0, done. So, a very good, clear win, a good performance.

"We all know the derby and the importance of the game for the fans and I think it's a testament to the boys and the group - we haven't won here in six years. It shows everything how difficult it is to play here and now we won 3-0 today. I think that's impressive."

I watched the 'next Harry Kane' and Tottenham fans should be excited

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I watched the 'next Harry Kane' and Tottenham fans should be excited - Football London
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When Will Lankshear signed for Oxford United on loan in the summer, there was hope that the 20-year-old could gain some valuable first-team experience and find his goalscoring touch at senior level.

Lankshear, 20, who made his Tottenham debut during a Europa League tie against Ferencvaros in October 2024, netted his first Spurs goal the following month, in the same competition, at Galatasaray.

But, after he was restricted to just six appearances under Ange Postecoglou, Lankshear moved to West Brom on loan for the second half of the season. However, he failed to score in 11 matches for the Baggies.

Lankshear returned to Tottenham and featured for new head coach Thomas Frank in pre-season, scoring in a 2-0 win over Reading in July. He then played against Luton Town before securing another loan move.

This time, Oxford confirmed the arrival of Lankshear at the start of August, with the striker putting pen to paper in time to start their Championship curtain-raiser against Portsmouth at the Kassam Stadium.

Lankshear scored his first Oxford goal on his second appearance for the club at Hull City, before following that up with a strike against Coventry City just before the September international break.

He then made it three goals in five second-tier games for the U's, as he found the net against Leicester City on Saturday. Lankshear tapped home from close-range after Michal Hielik pulled the ball back.

Although Lankshear is no doubt going to score harder goals in his career, he followed up a saved shot and was in the right place at the right time - like all prolific strikers need to be.

Apart from his goal, Lankshear produced an excellent all-round forward's performance. He was a real handful and the Leicester defenders, including Italy international Caleb Okoli, couldn't contain him.

Lankshear's strength and ability to hold the ball up while under pressure stood out. Okoli and fellow Foxes centre-back Jannik Vestergaard are strong themselves, but Lankshear caused them so many problems.

His movement also looked impressive. Every time Cameron Brannagan and the Oxford midfielders had the ball he demanded it off them and wanted to get involved where possible.

It did feel as though, having watched him in the flesh, that there is so much Harry Kane about him. Lankshear likes to drop into the pockets, like Kane, to get the ball and feed it out to the wingers as well as driving forward himself.

Kane, meanwhile, had a similar career path to Lankshear with rejections when he was a youngster, before then enjoying time out in the EFL before coming back to Tottenham as a better and more complete player.

While it's unknown whether Lankshear can be as good and productive as Kane in the future, Spurs fans have a reason to be excited about what he could bring to north London when he returns from his loan at Oxford.

Tottenham's secret weapon emerges as Thomas Frank delivers on his prediction

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Tottenham's secret weapon emerges as Thomas Frank delivers on his prediction - Football London
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Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank has praised one of the members of his backroom staff after the club's impressive start to the season.

Spurs claimed a 3-0 victory against West Ham on Saturday evening to move on to nine points from their first four fixtures. Pape Matar Sarr, Lucas Bergvall and Micky van de Ven scored the goals for Tottenham in their away trip to the London Stadium.

Tottenham have now kept clean sheets in three of their four Premier League matches, with the only goal conceded coming in their 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth last month.

Frank praised assistant coach Matt Wells following the win over West Ham while explaining the reason behind Tottenham's clean sheet success in the early weeks of the season.

"I think it's hugely important that we are good defensively," Frank told reporters on Saturday night at the London Stadium. "Obviously we want to score, want to play forward, want to play offensive football, we've scored eight goals, clearly we want to score goals.

"But over so many, many games, that foundation, being able to get clean sheets is key. It's something we worked very hard on throughout the pre-season.

"The players deserve a lot of praise. All the coaches. And especially Matt Wells, that really drives that.

"And I have a big, big, big focus. I said that's the first aim when I walked in the building."

Spurs will now prepare for their first Champions League match of the season, where they will face Villarreal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday night. After that, Frank and Co. will turn their attention back to the Premier League, where they will take on Brighton at the Amax Stadium next weekend.

What transfer target Savinho posted at same time Tottenham thrashed West Ham

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What transfer target Savinho posted at same time Tottenham thrashed West Ham - Football London
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Savinho could be in contention for his first appearance since being linked with a transfer to Tottenham Hotspur. The Brazilian winger spent the final part of the summer window rumoured to be the subject of transfer talks between Spurs and Manchester City.

Last season, which was his first working under Pep Guardiola, he scored three goals and provided 13 assists. However, an unspecified injury has kept Savinho from featuring this season, while ultimately he did not move anywhere before the September 1 deadline.

But that first fact may be about to change, as the Spurs target is reportedly in contention for his first outing of the 2025/26 season in Sunday afternoon's Manchester derby against local rivals Manchester United.

City actually took their final training session ahead of the grudge on the pitch of their Etihad Stadium. Savinho was involved, as he posted pictures to his Instagram story to confirm on Saturday night.

A first picture, as shown above, had the winger running with the ball. He captioned the image with a sky blue heart emoji paired with the eyes emoji.

Another displayed himself juggling the ball with his left foot, with the caption reading: "S26," a reference to his name and shirt number, followed by a lightning bolt emoji.

At the same time these two pictures were posted by Savinho, Spurs were wrapping up their emphatic win over London rivals West Ham at the London Stadium.

A goalless first half was followed by a drastically livelier second period kickstarted by Pape Sarr's 47th-minute opener.

Not long afterwards, Tomas Soucek was sent off for the hosts, and Thomas Frank's men immediately made good of their numerical advantage as Lucas Bergvall headed in a second.

The second goalscorer lastly turned provider as Micky van de Ven found the net again this season to conclude a positive 3-0 victory.

Savinho's mind may have been fixated on other tasks instead of what life may have been like in this Spurs side; however, his transfer is a question that will need a definitive answer the next time the opportunity rolls around.

Why Alan Sugar wants to SUE Jamie Redknapp and Sky Sports over Tottenham accusation

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Why Alan Sugar wants to SUE Jamie Redknapp and Sky Sports over Tottenham accusation - Football London
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Lord Alan Sugar has threatened legal action against Sky Sports and Jamie Redknapp following the pundit's scathing assessment that Tottenham were a "complete mess" when he departed in 2001.

The former Spurs midfielder made the controversial remarks while working alongside ex-Chelsea striker Gianfranco Zola during coverage of Tottenham's impressive 3-0 victory over West Ham on Saturday.

The Premier League encounter represented Spurs' maiden outing since Daniel Levy's bombshell departure from his role as chairman. Levy had been at the helm since Enic acquired Tottenham's controlling interest from Sugar nearly a quarter of a century ago.

The electronics tycoon presided over Spurs for 10 years, witnessing their FA Cup triumph in 1991 and League Cup success in 1999. Under Levy's stewardship, the north London outfit secured two pieces of silverware while relocating to their spectacular £1.2billion home and constructing state-of-the-art training facilities.

Addressing the 63-year-old's surprising departure - a verdict reached by Tottenham's revamped leadership - Redknapp lambasted the condition Sugar left the club in while lauding Levy's achievements.

"I have been critical of Daniel Levy, there were a few highs I didn't like in how he operated," the 52 year old Redknapp declared before kick-off.

"But in terms of the training ground, the facilities, the infrastructure and [building] one of the best football stadiums in the world, he has done a great job there... You think back to Alan Sugar, how he left the club was a complete mess.

"Daniel Levy has left it in a really great way and [chief executive] Vinai [Venkatesham] will know that, and the people that are in charge now will really look at this club and think it can go forward."

Merely 21 minutes after Sky broadcast a segment featuring Redknapp's remarks on X, previously known as Twitter, Sugar retaliated with the prospect of legal proceedings.

"Jamie Redknapp is a double barrel idiot. He talks a load of rubbish. He said when Daniel Levy took over Spurs Alan Sugar left the club in a right mess. He and Sky will be hearing from my lawyers Monday @redknapp."

The profile that Sugar referenced belongs to Harry Redknapp, Jamie's father. Sugar corrected himself in a follow-up message, cautioning: "I am coming after you @MrJamieRedknapp idiot."

Sky Sports have been contacted for comment. Sugar persisted in viewing Sky's broadcast of the evening fixture, expressing frustration about VAR following Spurs having a strike in the opening period controversially ruled out for an infringement.

Thomas Frank's outfit proceeded to triumph 3-0 courtesy of second-half strikes from Pape Sarr, Lucas Bergvall and Micky van de Ven.

James Maddison risks FA punishment over rant about Tottenham VAR controversy

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James Maddison risks FA punishment over rant about Tottenham VAR controversy - Football London
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James Maddison risks being charged by the Football Association for comments made on social media after Tottenham Hotspur had a goal disallowed against West Ham United.

The referee Jarred Gillett ruled out an opening goal from Cristian Romero after his marker, Kyle Walker-Peters, fell inside the six-yard box before the Spurs captain headed in a Mohammed Kudus corner from close range. Both players are holding onto each other before goalkeeper Mads Hermansen pushes Micky van de Ven into his defender.

Gillet adjudged the contact as a foul and awarded West Ham a free-kick. Video assistant referee John Brooks also agreed.

Premier League Match Centre then explained that "the referee's call of no goal was checked and confirmed by VAR, with it deemed that van de Ven pushed Walker-Peters in the back and impacted his ability to play the ball."

A minute later, Maddison hit out at the decision on social media. "Honestly, the referees and VAR have had an absolute shocker of a start to the season," the player posted on X, formerly Twitter. "If that goal is disallowed for a foul, you will never ever see a corner be taken without the referee blowing for something ever again."

Former Professional Game Match Officials Limited ( PGMOL ) general manager, Keith Hackett, now expects the FA to charge Maddison. "I hope that we never stop players from expressing their opinion," he prefaced the comment, speaking to Tottenham News. "I agree with his view that the season has not started well for match officials.

"I expect Maddison to be charged. The FA are clearly monitoring comments made on social media throughout all levels of the game."

Hackett also spoke on the decision itself to Football Insider. "Given the amount of grappling that we witness at set pieces, we have seen similar incidents go unpunished," he said.

"The inconsistency around these incidents has been going on for several seasons. The fact that a good goal was ruled out emphasised this inconsistency.

"I would have expected this goal to stand and not to be ruled out. PGMOL need to take action to achieve a greater degree of consistency."

Why Romero shouted at Udogie as Bergvall admits one Tottenham coach won't be happy with him

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Why Romero shouted at Udogie as Bergvall admits one Tottenham coach won't be happy with him - Football London
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There were two particularly keen pairs of eyes up in the directors' box at the London Stadium that would have been happy with what they had seen of Tottenham Hotspur.

For once, neither pair of peepers belonged to Daniel Levy. For the first game since the 63-year-old left his role as executive chairman, the power behind the throne made its presence felt at the first derby of the season for Spurs.

Vivienne Lewis and her son-in-law Nick Beucher have both been key figures in the recent changes at the top of the north London club, as the generations of the Lewis family have flexed their collective muscle. Vivienne's brother Charles, both of them the children of former Spurs owner Joe Lewis, is also expected to become a more regular presence at matches in the future to complete the new trinity of power.

Beucher is co-CEO of Tavistock Group with Levy's son Josh. Tavistock own ENIC, who in turn have a controlling interest in Tottenham. Vivienne and Charles Lewis are senior managing directors of Tavistock.

The two family members at Stratford sat between Tottenham's CEO Vinai Venkatesham and technical director Johan Lange.

While the Lewis family pushed for change inside Spurs after instigating a major independent review so Venkatesham is shaping that new look. A new chief marketing officer Adam Gardiner has been plucked from Arsenal to start early in 2026 and there remains the expected return of former managing director of football Fabio Paratici in a more official capacity.

Venkatesham surrounded himself with football knowledge during his time at the Gunners and it will be the same at Tottenham, with Paratici and Lange said to work well together with complementary skill sets.

It's uncharted territory within Spurs as the staff around the club get used to a new era. The micro-managing nature of the long-serving Levy and his board has given way to a different kind of management, with staff empowered to make decisions and that will take some getting used to.

Whether the club ends up being better for it after 24 years with a single guiding voice will become clear in the months ahead and beyond.

At least on the pitch Spurs have started well under a head coach who struggled to do exactly that at both Brentford and Brondby.

The Bournemouth bore-fest aside, Thomas Frank's team have otherwise showcased the firm foundations he has constructed this summer with three clean sheets in their first four matches and just that single Cherries goal conceded since the season began.

On top of that, the added focus on set pieces, both defensively and offensively from coach Andreas Georgson has been the low-hanging fruit Ben Davies spoke about in pre-season as being the simple things Tottenham could do to improve.

While the derby at West Ham was played at a snail's pace at times, forced by a home side that for once did not look particularly bothered about any London rivalry, it was the set pieces that had the Hammers clinging on for dear life at every corner and free-kick.

In the first half, the officials caused more problems for Tottenham than their hosts did.

A Cristian Romero header from Mohammed Kudus' corner was ruled out. That was after Micky van de Ven was adjudged to have pushed Kyle Walker-Peters in the build-up, yet none of the officials or those in the VAR room seemingly noticed that the West Ham goalkeeper Mads Hermansen had pushed the Dutchman into the former Spurs full-back.

The injured James Maddison tweeted: "Honestly the referees and VAR have had an absolute shocker of a start to the season. If that goal is disallowed for a foul you will never ever see a corner be taken without a referee blowing for something ever again."

Then Van de Ven was wrestled to the floor at a corner not long after, with only the briefest of checks deciding there was nothing to see.

"I think the disallowed goal is for me clearly a goal," Frank told football.london. "When I look back it's Mads Hermansen who pushed Micky into Kyle Walker-Peters and we talk about higher thresholds. For me it's a clear goal.

"If you see the United goal against Fulham a few weeks ago where there were two hands in the back, it was given. I've heard afterwards it was a mistake, but no matter what, for higher thresholds this is clearly a goal that needs to stand.

"I think the Micky van de Ven situation, I think it's the player that marked Micky doesn't look at the ball and he got two hands around him. So it's one of those where it could definitely have been given. I'm probably slightly biased, I would say 60-40 it should have been given, but I know those situations are not easy."

The first half bore plenty of the hallmarks of the dour derby at the end of last season as that day an understrength Spurs side shared the spoils with a poor Hammers one.

This time 10 second half minutes would decide the destination of the three points and they were not remaining in Stratford.

The first moment came two minutes after the restart when Spurs debutant Xavi Simons' deep corner found Pape Matar Sarr completely unmarked at the back post to head home. It was a bewildering absence of defending but that does not detract from the movement and finish from the young midfielder.

On 54 minutes Tomas Soucek reacted to a loose first touch in the West Ham half with a lunge that saw his studs tear through the sock on Joao Palhinha's shin. The Portuguese would have been thanking the inventor of shinpads and the red card was brandished with little complaint from anyone on the home side.

Tottenham pressed home their advantage when just three minutes later, Lucas Bergvall sent a looping header over Hermansen from Romero's pinpoint ball over the top.

Just after the hour mark, it was 3-0 when a good little move between the marauding Mathys Tel and Palhinha culminated with the latter sending Bergvall into the box and his dribble ended with the ball falling for Van de Ven to sweep home.

When the Dutch centre-back came off later, to be replaced by Kevin Danso, Frank put his arm around him and walked him back to the dugout, pointing and laughing and getting the same reaction from the 24-year-old.

football.london asked the Tottenham head coach what that was all about.

"I want a goal from him from set-pieces. It was a second phase set-piece but it didn't count if it was left or right foot. I need a header," the Dane explained with a grin.

Van de Ven and Romero were both imperious in the centre of the defence again yet Frank will continue to push and challenge them both. For when both are fully fit, their partnership brings one of the best blends of centre-backs in the Premier League.

Romero delivers the front foot, aggressive drive that Tottenham need and Van de Ven the pace and anticipation to mop up almost everything that falls behind his team-mates.

Romero has responded to the captaincy and his new contract with a greater sense of purpose and responsibility. While sometimes others will speak in the pre-match huddle, as Guglielmo Vicario did on Saturday, it is the World Cup-winning Argentine that they all look to on the pitch.

He is not shy of getting his opinions across to them, both positive and negative with Destiny Udogie getting a furious telling off from Romero after West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen got through at 3-0 up late on.

Romero wanted that clean sheet for all of the defenders after a season when the number zero was rarely seen beneath the opposition's name.

"It's hugely important that we are good defensively," said Frank. "Obviously we want to score, want to play forward, want to play offensive football, we've scored eight goals, clearly we want to score goals.

"But over so many, many games, that foundation, being able to get clean sheets is key. It's something we worked very hard on throughout the pre-season. The players deserve a lot of praise, all the coaches, and especially Matt Wells, who really drives that. And I have a big, big, big focus. I said that's the first aim when I walked in the building."

Ahead of the defence there were plenty of things to continue to build upon. Mohammed Kudus dealt with the expected boos that came his way from the Hammers fans by constantly terrifying his old team whenever he had the ball. It was the cruellest of responses but perfect for Tottenham.

West Ham could not keep the Ghana international contained and at 3-0 up he was pulling out all the flicks and tricks. Many of those who had booed him inside the London Stadium had departed anyway by that part, having begun to file out after Bergvall's goal to perhaps enjoy the delights of the nearby shopping centre instead of an afternoon of misery.

Bergvall again showed just how much promise he has as a 19-year-old playing in the toughest league in the world. His first Premier League goal was perfectly executed, in both the run and the cushioned looping header.

On the day the Swede became the second youngest player to score and assist a goal in the Premier League for Spurs at 19 years and 223 days, after Nick Barmby.

Bergvall is getting stronger and stronger. In one moment in the Spurs half, he managed to keep the ball while falling with three players around him and challenging him, and spun on the floor with it at his feet before jumping up and motoring away.

Bergvall was also on long throw duty and mostly sent them into the danger area apart from one late launch that fell short.

On that one, he admitted in his club interview after the game that "Andreas is not going to be happy with me on that one". The teenager looked down the corridor with a cheeky grin to see if his compatriot and the club's restart coach was down there before saying that he would ask Kevin Danso for some tips as he's "another level" with his long throws.

"First and foremost I think his performance was good today. I really like his energy, his pressing skill, his enthusiasm," Frank said of Bergvall. "I think he drags the team with him, in a kind of way, and there's so much he can learn and improve.

"So I think that's promising as well. Fantastic goal. Well-timed run. Top ball from Romero and a well-executed header."

In his club interview, Frank explained further that part of Bergvall's improvement will be knowing when to slow his game down and when to play at the frantic pace he often does.

Alongside him, Sarr continues to mature and is a growing force to be reckoned with in Frank's midfield. The Dane has a lot of time for the Senegal international, who scored a late winner for his country in midweek.

Sarr is the Spurs player who has impressed Frank the most by a distance since his arrival. The head coach believes the 22-year-old has unlimited potential with his all-round skill set.

Behind the two young midfielders was the ever-patrolling, experienced Palhinha, who is looking like the most astute loan move of the summer and he's still not fit yet.

"Some players hit the ground running in a season. I think we need to - even though he's played in the Premier League before - it's still a new club, a new coach, crazy new ideas from the coach, all those things," said Frank of the Portuguese.

"And then he had a little disjointed pre-season because he played at the Club World Cup, without playing too many games, or barely any. So I think he will grow and be better. Happy again with his performance today. Solid. He just gives the team that structure and solidity."

Then there was Xavi's debut, on the left flank rather than in the number 10 role Frank told football.london on Friday that he will mostly employ him in.

The wing role won't get the best out of the 22-year-old, but he does have the dribbling ability to make it work when the circumstances require it.

"I have played my whole life in the number 10 position but in the last couple of years I have played on the left," he said in his post-match interview. "I want to go one v one and take on my defender. I want to help the team by scoring goals and making assists so I'm happy about that. That was one of the things that I spoke with the coach before I came here."

The Dutchman needs to be involved. He's confident on the ball, progressive in his play and looks to make things happen whenever it is at his feet.

This was a debut that pointed towards what's to come without being remarkable and that's how Frank saw it as well.

"I think he was promising. I liked what I saw from him. I liked that he took initiative on the ball," said the head coach. "Every single time he had the ball he tried to create something, and I think he had a wonderful assist for the first goal from a corner. Worked hard as well. I think it was a good first game."

Up front Mathys Tel had a battling day. He picked up a painful knock to his knee in the first half but just did not want to come off despite hobbling for a good 10 minutes.

At a club level, it's been a difficult time for Tel with being left out of Frank's Champions League squad. He responded for France U21s with a couple of terrific goals and his Spurs head coach admitted the 20-year-old Frenchman had been incredibly mature about the whole situation.

People forget how young Tel is and he's a fighter. He kept going against West Ham and played a key part in the third goal with a good bit of play down the right. He always looks more threatening down the flanks, rather than trying to hold up the ball centrally as a focal point.

Frank spoke about the young attacker when explaining how important it was that he was able to use his squad with Tuesday night's Champions League return in mind.

"I think it's important that I trust my players. Of course they need to perform and train well and show the right attitude and all that, but they do and they train well," he said. "So I have the privilege to, for example, rest Rodri. Of course he could have played today, but he played two 90 minutes, he landed Thursday morning.

"So I'm not too worried about this [game], but what about Tuesday? What about the next one? And they can't play 70 games, all of them, all the time. Rodri is a key player for us. Richy is the same. He could have started but also played at 4,000m height against Bolivia and so on, and then others have done well.

"Lucas, look how he came on the pitch, and how he performed as well. I think Mathys, very impressive, the performance was maybe not through the roof, but it was very solid, I would say 7/10, worked hard, pressing, constant pressing, and that's very good also. You know he's not in the Champions League squad. Very happy with the [club] squad."

Tottenham sit second in the fledgling Premier League table for now, on the same points as leaders Arsenal and third-placed Liverpool, who play their fourth game tomorrow at Burnley.

Frank is only the third Tottenham manager to win his first two away top-flight matches at the helm of the club, although the others were Ossie Ardiles and Tim Sherwood so he will be hoping to outlast them.

Frank was a happy man after the game, so enthusiastic in his press conference that he could barely keep up with the speed he was getting his own words out.

"A very good clear win, a good performance and I think we all know the derby and the importance of the game for the fans and I think it's a testament to the boys and the group that we haven't won here in six years," he told football.london.

"It shows everything about how difficult it is to play here and now we won 3-0 today. I think that's impressive."

It's certainly been an impressive start overall for the new head coach and his team and now the games come thick and fast, including Frank's first foray into the Champions League.

He will continue to use the depth of his squad. Archie Gray, a £40million signing last summer, could not even find a place in it on Saturday and the club's latest arrival Randal Kolo Muani is yet to make his debut as they build up the fitness of the 26-year-old, who has not played a match since July 1 and was not training with PSG in pre-season.

Muani does have Champions League experience, as do Xavi, Kudus and Palhinha and that was a strength of Spurs' transfer window in bringing in players who will not be overawed by the occasion when that famous music begins.

Neither though will Frank even if he's never experienced it before. It's something the Dane will have been dreaming about and now he has the chance to show it's where he and this new-look Spurs side belong.

Every word Thomas Frank said on Xavi, Bergvall and what he said that made Micky van de Ven laugh

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Every word Thomas Frank said on Xavi, Bergvall and what he said that made Micky van de Ven laugh - Football London
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Thomas Frank was in high spirits after his Tottenham Hotspur side won 3-0 at West Ham United in the Premier League on Saturday.

After a slow first half with a couple of debatable decisions from the officials, the derby ignited with a frantic 10 minutes in the early stages of the second period. Just two minutes after the restart new Spurs signing Xavi Simons' corner found Pape Matar Sarr completely unmarked at the back post to head home.

Then on 54 minutes Tomas Soucek lunged and missed the ball after a loose first touch and his studs were so high up Joao Palhinha's shin that they tore through the Portuguese's sock and the red card was brandished with little complaint.

Three minutes after that dismissal, Lucas Bergvall sent a looping header over Hermansen from Cristian Romero's pinpoint ball over the top. Spurs made it 3-0 on 64 minutes when Micky van de Ven swept home the loose ball after a Bergvall run inside the hosts' box to ensure Tottenham travelled back across the capital with three points, three goals and a clean sheet.

Our Spurs correspondent Alasdair Gold was among those putting the questions to Frank after the game. Here's the full transcript from the press conference at the London Stadium.

The game started slowly but did you get everything you wanted from it in the end?

Yeah I agree. I think the first 15 to 20 minutes was even. Not too much happened. But then I think we really grew into it and the last 20 or 25, something like that. I think we dominated and created a lot of good opportunities without having too many big, big chances.

We had really a lot of dangerous situations and we know in football sometimes it's also about getting closer and closer and closer and then suddenly there's that opening where you can score. I think West Ham defended very well first half. It was difficult to get the clear-cut chances but when we got it to Xavi and Mo on the sides and played and run, produced crosses, you know, either in-swing or overlap and so on, and a lot of corners where we also were very dangerous.

So happy that the goal came second half because you never know, the momentum can change after half-time but we kept going and scored a good goal after and then 3-0 done. So a very good clear win, a good performance and I think we all know the derby and the importance of the game for the fans and I think it's a testament to the boys and the group that we haven't won here in six years.

It shows everything how difficult it is to play here and now we won 3-0 today. I think that's impressive.

What did you make of the two moments in the first half with the disallowed goal and then Micky van de Ven pulled down in the box?

I think the disallowed goal is for me clearly a goal. When I look back it's Mads Hermansen who pushed Micky into Kyle Walker-Peters and we talk about higher thresholds. For me it's a clear goal.

If you see the United goal against Fulham a few weeks ago where there were two hands in the back, it was given. I've heard afterwards it was a mistake, but no matter what, for higher thresholds this is clearly a goal that needs to stand.

I think the Micky van de Ven situation, I think it's the player that marked Micky doesn't look at the ball and he got two hands around him. So it's one of those where it could definitely have been given. I'm probably slightly biased, I would say 60-40 it should have been given, but I know those situations are not easy.

You looked to be sharing some laughs with Micky van de Ven when he came off, may I ask what it was about?

Yes, I want a goal from him from set-pieces. It was a second phase set-piece but it didn't count if it was left or right foot. I need a header.

You used your squad today with Tuesday in mind, how encouraging is it that you can use it and get a result?

I think it's extremely important. I think it's important that I trust my players. Of course they need to perform and train well and show the right attitude and all that, but they do and they train well.

So I have the privilege to, for example, rest Rodri. Of course he could have played today. But he played two 90 minutes, he landed Thursday morning. So I'm not too worried about this, but what about Tuesday? What about the next one? And they can't play 70 games, all of them, all the time. Rodri is a key player for us.

Richy is the same. He could have started but also played in 4,000m height against Bolivia and so on, and then others have done well.

Lucas, look how he came on the pitch, and how he performed as well. I think Mathys, very impressive, the performance was maybe not through the roof, but it was very solid, I would say 7/10, worked hard, pressing, constant pressing, and that's very good also. You know he's not in the Champions League squad. Very happy with the squad.

With Lucas Bergvall, do you see him as a goalscoring midfielder?

Yes. First and foremost I think his performance was good today. I really like his energy, his pressing skill, his enthusiasm. I think he drags the team with him, in a kind of way. And there's so much he can learn and improve. So I think that's promising as well. Fantastic goal. Well-timed run. Top ball from Romero. And a well-executed header.

What did you make of Xavi Simons' debut?

I think he was promising. I liked what I saw from him. I liked that he took initiative on the ball. Every single time he had the ball he tried to create something. And I think he had a wonderful assist for the first goal from a corner. Worked hard as well. I think it was a good first game.

With Joao Palhinha, is he 100% sharp?

No, some players hit the ground running in a season. I think we need to - even though he's played in the Premier League before - it's still a new club, a new coach, crazy new ideas from the coach, all those things. And then he had a little disjointed pre-season because he played at the Club World Cup, without playing too many games, or barely any. So I think he will grow and be better. Happy again with his performance today. Solid. He just gives the team that structure and solidity.

A third clean sheet, how important is that?

I think it's hugely important that we are good defensively. Obviously we want to score, want to play forward, want to play offensive football, we've scored eight goals, clearly we want to score goals. But over so many, many games, that foundation, being able to get clean sheets is key. It's something we worked very hard on throughout the pre-season. The players deserve a lot of praise. All the coaches. And especially Matt Wells, that really drives that. And I have a big, big, big focus. I said that's the first aim when I walked in the building.