Tottenham's Thomas Frank Addresses Player Apologies After Chelsea Defeat
Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has revealed that players Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence apologized to him after they were seen leaving the pitch without acknowledging him following their recent loss to Chelsea.
After Saturday's 1-0 defeat, Frank urged his team to perform a lap of appreciation for the fans at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. However, as the crowd expressed their displeasure, Van de Ven and Spence were captured on camera heading straight down the tunnel, ignoring their manager.
In a press conference on Monday, Frank stated, "Micky and Djed came into my office yesterday and expressed their desire to apologize for the situation. They didn’t want it to appear disrespectful or lead to any misconceptions in this media-driven world. There was no disrespect intended towards me or the team; they were simply frustrated with our performance and the booing from the crowd during the match."
The players' actions have drawn criticism from some fans and pundits, while others argue that the incident has been exaggerated. Frank, who is 52, expressed his satisfaction that the players approached him to address the matter, which he believes prevented it from escalating.
He remarked, "If they hadn’t come in, I would have needed to discuss their feelings about the situation. We all have our perceptions, whether it’s due to personal issues or frustration with the game. I’m glad they reached out because it shows they care about the team, the club, and me. That’s a positive sign."
When questioned about the incident in his post-match interview, Frank acknowledged his players' "frustration" and referred to it as a "small issue." However, this situation coincides with a period of inconsistent performance and a decline in fan morale.
Sources indicate that Tottenham is relieved the incident was not a slight against Frank but rather a manifestation of the players' frustration stemming from recent negativity among fans at home. The team has not won at home in the Premier League since their season opener, a 3-0 victory over Burnley, and has managed only three wins in their last 19 matches at the stadium under both former manager Ange Postecoglou and Frank.
In fact, among the top four tiers of English football, only Southampton has recorded fewer home victories than Spurs during this stretch. Frank has since considered the matter resolved as his team prepares to improve their home form in their upcoming Champions League match against Copenhagen on Tuesday.
'If we had more help from the stands it could be better'
Currently, Spurs sit fifth in the Premier League and, on the surface, appear to be having a decent season with five wins. However, they started last season similarly strong, with five wins in their first ten matches, before finishing 17th under Postecoglou, raising concerns among fans about a potential repeat of that downturn.
The team has not won consecutive league matches since their opening victories against Burnley and Manchester City, and they have secured just one win in their last five competitive games since the October international break. Fans have expressed their frustrations through boos, a reaction Frank understands, although he believes such negativity during matches is unhelpful.
He commented, "I think the fans were fantastic for the first 30 minutes. After the game, if we perform poorly and lose, then it’s fair for them to boo us. However, during the match, we need their support, especially when things aren’t going our way. They can be the turning point. We were down 1-0, and in the last 15 minutes, they could carry us over the line. If we could have equalized, that would have been a great feeling! That point could be crucial at the end of a long season."
Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario echoed his manager's sentiments, stating, "If we had more help from the stands, it could be better, but of course, we cannot control that. In the end, everyone was really disappointed because we lost a London derby. We understand the fans’ reaction at the end of the game, and we acknowledge that we are in a difficult situation."