Thomas Frank spoke to the media at Hotspur Way on Monday, ahead of our UEFA Champions League MD7 encounter against Borussia Dortmund at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday evening (8pm UK).
Here's what he had to say...
We are reporting, as are a number of other outlets, that discussions took place at board level after the West Ham game about your future. Are you able to share with us what was communicated to you after those discussions?
Thomas: “I've just been, how can you say, feeling the trust along the way. I've said that at every press meeting that there is backing and support. I had lunch with Nick and Vinai and Johan today, so all good. I know it's part of the, how can you say, the media circus. The only focus I have is to do everything I can for us to win tomorrow against Dortmund.”
The relationship with the fans - do you ever think that's become so broken, so fractured, so irredeemable that you can't win the fans back right now, it's just gone too far?
Thomas: “I think, as I say many times, I'll say it again, as long as we win football matches and make sure we do that, win enough of them, then, how can you say, everyone will support us. It's not about me, it's about supporting Xavi, supporting the team, supporting the players. You can say you're playing a game tomorrow against a very good German side and we are, how can you say, a little bit limited with the players available for the game. So, we basically have 11 players of our outfield players available for the game, of our normal first team players. One of them is Xavi, the guy who was out there and didn't train today because it was a bad tackle from Bowen - not that Bowen is a bad guy, wouldn't do anything intentional - a bad tackle from behind that injured his ankle, he has a swollen ankle, but because he's so strong mentally, he will play through pain tomorrow. So that's big credit, of course, to Xavi. And by the way, when we are there, I can't understand why that's not a red card when a red card is when he accidentally put his foot on Van Dijk. Anyway, that's a bigger discussion. So, we have 11 players available, and we maybe have three players that need to push massively to get through 90 minutes physically. So, that's why we need everyone to support us, and we need everyone to support us from minute one. All of us, especially the team, especially the players, especially if it's not going too well, need support. Because if we do get that support, everything can happen and magic can happen. We have a good opportunity tomorrow and we go all in for it.”
Do you think you personally can still win the fans' back?
Thomas: “Yeah, I'm not in doubt of that. I think you can say in this game, you always need to show resilience. I listened to some interesting thing the other day where the three biggest things in showing resilience is one, you have good values. I see myself as a guy that has pretty good values. Two, you know reality, and reality is one in five normally don't like you, no matter what you do. One in five love you, no matter what you do. Both of them probably biased either way, too much. Then there's the three in five that if you behave well, respectful, show integrity, do your best, normally they’re that's right. So, no matter what you do, reality is some will not like you. But I keep doing what I do, what I believe in. And then the last bit, by the way, have perspective in life, which I have in abundance. So, looking forward to the game tomorrow.”
How do you cope with it all?
Thomas: “I think you're right. If your back is against the wall, you fight. That's what I do, I'm energetic, I fight. And again, it's not about me. We need to win football matches, and we need to win football matches together, and that's what it's all about. We planned well. We are ready, we are focused for the game tomorrow and the plans look good.”
You've got to make a decision between Dominic Solanke and Mathys Tel - have you made that decision? The French media seem to be suggesting that maybe Mathys has come back out again. If you have chosen Dominic, does that suggest that he's fit enough to start?
Thomas: “Yeah, I made the decision. That was not a nice decision to have to make. Unfortunately, that's football so you have to make a decision. And the way the rules are, the only option was either Dom or Matys in the squad and I chose Dom because I think Matys has done very well the last couple of games and that's the crazy thing - if I could pick from all the players who are fit, he would start tomorrow. But I can only pick between the two of them and now he's out of the squad. So that's of course a tough one to take from Matys.”
Joao Palhinha - is he fit?
Thomas: “No, no, no. That's why I said we only have 11 players. No, no, it's when it rains it pours, so he's not available. “
You've always said it's not quick fix it, so what are you explaining to those above you about how you are going to turn it around? Is it simply because you haven't got Kulusevski, you haven't had Solanke? What are the reasons for what's going on in this run of form?
Thomas: “I think football is always very simple, but also a little bit complex. There are many moving parts. The thing is, we lost four of the last seven, all with one goal. All games where we could have got more out of it, with a little bit of margins stopping our way. I think I said it a few times, especially the Bournemouth and the West Ham game, I think we could have won it and we looked at the winning team and then we would have different stories in yesterday. Liverpool just said, you know, freak action, caused a red card and then suddenly it's a little bit uphill, even though we did a lot of good things. I think it's about keeping your noise out, stay calm, carry on, look at the performances, look if the players are still running, if they are running hard. I think it's a big thing, the last three games where we are down at half-time, how they come out and respond I think is a massive thing. They responded fantastic and we should have got more out of it. Sometimes it's just football that happens and you are in that spell and you all search for answers, you ask me for answers, Xavi for answers. It's not like, why are we not scoring, why is he not dropping for us, why are we not putting to the top corner. That's sometimes a little bit, you are in that spell where it's not going your way. That's part of it. Are you still working hard? Are you still trying hard? Are you still believing? Which I see signs of clearly in every game. And then of course, I think even the best coach in the world, Pep Guardiola, said I'm nothing without my players. I'm nothing without the best players available. I think it's fair to say they haven't been available enough at the same time the whole season, which makes it a little bit more tricky. But hey, no problem. I'm happy to take the blame as long as everyone supports the players.”
How important is it that the fans know that you're only early into this spell?
Thomas: “Of course, I think the fans are crucial. I don't see any club performing well without the fans supporting and helping and doing everything they can. It's fair that it's not been smooth and it's not been as fluid as we want it to be and a little bit too much up and down. Unfortunately, it’s a result business and there's a lot of emotions in this as well. I think there's a lot of signs it's going the right way. When it's a little bit tricky to play every third or fourth day, that makes it more difficult, but we still need to find a way to get over the line. I think we're much closer than we think and we just need to keep going.”
What's your message to the fans in terms of how far you believe you are from getting the regular performances out of your team that we saw at Brentford?
Thomas: “That I will actually refer to the last seven games. I think they have been quite regularly in the right direction and where it's such a little thing that needs to drop for us before we win 2-1 against West Ham and 3-2 against Bournemouth. Then it's completely different. Even the Villa game, that could also have been drawn. I think we performed a little bit of everything to not necessarily lose any of them and then it's different. That's why I don't think we're that far away.”
How do you expect fans to take the news that Mathys Tel has been replaced in the UCL squad by Dominic Solanke?
Thomas: “I don't know. I hope people understand it's not a straightforward decision. It's him or Dom in the team tomorrow and it's Mathys that has done well. Or it's Dom that has been, how can you say, the main striker, experienced a voice that's also, with his experience, more likely also can give a little bit more to everyone else if it's a little bit tough. So, that's a decision and I made a decision and I believe of course it's the right decision and that's what I went with.”
You mentioned about being up for the fight. I guess we don't always see the nastier side of you because we have the perception of you being a very nice guy, which you are. Can you tell us about that kind of character and just how much you're ready for the fight and that side of personality? Mr. Nasty in the dressing room, I guess...
Thomas: “I think being up for the fight is to get up every morning, very early, coming in, preparing, doing everything we can to turn every stone to make sure we are well prepared every single time we go on the pitch. Push the staff, push the players, have demands, loads of small conversations, meetings, push everything. I think that's part of it, and being ready for the fight is also that you keep going, you don't feel sorry for yourself when it's tough. You put things into a bigger perspective, you do everything you can. I can definitely know that I can look at myself and do everything I can to make things right. But again, now it's me. We all know that if you want to have success, it cannot only be about me or Xavi. It's about 25 players, me, the whole staff, ownership, leadership. So, I know I get a little bit of the man in the middle at the moment, fair enough, no problem. I'm more than happy to take all the blame, as long as I protect the players and back the players, everyone, including fans and journalists. So, I just keep doing what I'm doing and I'm not in doubt that's the right thing. I'm not in doubt that will turn. Of course, we need to win more football matches.”
Going back to the fans tomorrow night. Your place in the qualification isn't yet secure, so how important are they against really dominant, experienced opposition tomorrow night?
Thomas: “It is crucial. I completely understand the emotion in football and what it means for every fan that is involved. I completely, completely understand that. But I also really, really understand how it is when people walk out on that pitch. The more they feel the energy and the support, no matter what, the better they perform. And we need that tomorrow and of course. And I think the biggest thing, look at the players, are they running hard? Yes, they are.”
We all know what a difficult game this is going to be, even if you had a full squad, you also said that you had lunch with Vinai, Johan and Nick Beucher earlier today. Do they give you any clarity or any assurances that if it doesn't go the way you want tomorrow night, about what the future holds?
Thomas: “I think it's a nice question. I haven't heard any situation like that in football where they say, hey mate, if you win tomorrow, no problem. If you lose tomorrow, no problem. We had a good conversation about life and football, the future of the club, everything normal like you do. Of course, there's a little bit, how would you say, stormy weather out there. I just think it's an extremely good sign because normally people are running away. If there's bad news or bad weather coming, they're normally not coming in and being friendly for lunch.”
