Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank admitted there's "no quick fix" for the issues plaguing his team after their disappointing 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Sunday. The loss, which Frank described as a "very bad performance," has intensified the pressure on the Spurs boss, with the team failing to demonstrate the "front-footed, aggressive, brave, and offence-minded" approach he had called for prior to the match.
Spurs have struggled to maintain consistency this season, and this defeat marked their fourth in the last seven Premier League games. They haven't won back-to-back league games since August, highlighting the team's instability. The match against Forest exposed several vulnerabilities, with Frank lamenting his team's disjointed play, lack of duels won, and inability to complete simple passes. "We couldn't hit each other," he noted, "It seemed like we gave the ball away every single time we won it back".
The game was marred by defensive errors, with Guglielmo Vicario's ill-judged pass leading to Nottingham Forest's opening goal. Callum Hudson-Odoi capitalized on the mistake, scoring the first of his two goals. Sangare added a third with a fantastic strike from distance, compounding Tottenham's misery. Frank didn't excuse individual errors, stating that players need to be able to execute simple passes. He also said, "On paper, black and white, we lose 3-0 here. That is disappointing. The better team won today".
Tottenham only managed one shot on target throughout the 90 minutes, underscoring their struggles in attack. Frank had praised the form of Mohammed Kudus and Richarlison before the game, but both players failed to make an impact. Kudus frequently ran into opposing players, while Richarlison struggled to retain possession against Forest's defenders.
The defeat has left Tottenham with just 22 points from their first 16 games, their fewest at this stage of a season since 2008-09. The away fans expressed their frustration with boos at the final whistle. Despite the setback, Frank emphasized the need for the team to stick together and maintain composure. "When things go against us, we have to keep doing the right thing and keep our cool heads," he urged. He acknowledged that the team needs to work towards greater consistency, describing their progress as "two steps forward and a step back".
Frank also addressed Djed Spence's angry reaction to being substituted, stating he hadn't seen it and would need to review it. He suggested Spence's anger could stem from his own performance, the team's performance, or being taken off the pitch. The manager's focus remains on addressing the fundamental issues within the team and finding a path back to consistent performances, but he cautioned that it won't be a rapid transformation.
