Frank Defends Van de Ven and Spence After Tottenham Loss to Chelsea
Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has defended Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence after they appeared to walk straight down the tunnel following their 1-0 home defeat to Chelsea. The incident occurred after the final whistle, with the defensive pair seemingly ignoring Frank's instructions to thank the home supporters. The loss, Tottenham's third at home this season, has increased the pressure on Frank, with some fans beginning to question his tactics.
Chelsea secured their fifth consecutive victory over Spurs, with Joao Pedro's first-half goal proving the difference. The result extended Tottenham's poor home record and led to boos from the home crowd. The atmosphere at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was further soured by the post-match actions of Van de Ven and Spence, who headed straight for the tunnel, seemingly disregarding Frank's attempts to acknowledge the fans.
When questioned about the incident in the post-match press conference, Frank downplayed the situation, stating, "I think that is one of the small issues. We have Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence who are doing everything they can. They perform very well so far this season and everyone is frustrated. We do things in a different way, so I don't think it is a big problem". He further acknowledged the players' frustration, adding, "All the players are of course frustrated. They would like to do well, they would like to win, they would like to perform well, so I understand that".
Frank emphasized the importance of maintaining consistency during both good and bad times. "I think it is about, which is difficult, to be consistent in good times and in bad times. That is why I went around to the fans as I did. It is more fun when we win, I can tell you that," he said.
The defeat highlighted Tottenham's struggles in front of goal, as they only managed one shot on target throughout the entire game. Their attacking woes were further emphasized by their lowest ever expected goals (xG) figure of 0.05 since Opta records began in the 2012-13 campaign. Frank acknowledged Chelsea's superiority on the day, stating, "Chelsea were better than us on the day … we need to work hard to keep getting better … we couldn't match their energy or intensity unfortunately".
Despite the disappointing result and the post-match incident, Frank is likely to continue to rely on Van de Ven and Spence in the upcoming fixtures. Van de Ven, in particular, has been a key player for Tottenham, with Frank previously praising his defensive work and impact on the team. Frank has previously expressed confidence in Van de Ven's fitness and ability to cope with the demands of regular first-team football.
Tottenham will be looking to bounce back from this defeat as they prepare for their next Premier League match against Manchester United. Frank will be hoping that his team can put in a stronger performance and repay the faith of the Tottenham fans.
