Tottenham Hotspur head coach Thomas Frank believes Manchester United hold a key edge in the Premier League's battle for Champions League qualification due to their absence from European competitions. The comments come ahead of Saturday's matchup between the two sides, both on 17 points after 10 league games. Frank described this season's Premier League as the most competitive he has seen.
Tottenham Hotspur are set to host Manchester United in a Premier League clash on Saturday, serving as a rematch of May's Europa League final in Bilbao. In that final, a first-half goal from Brennan Johnson secured Tottenham's first trophy in 17 years under predecessor Ange Postecoglou, earning them a spot in this season's Champions League despite a record-poor league finish.
Both teams have shown improvement this season, sitting sixth and eighth respectively with 17 points from 10 matches. However, with teams like Sunderland and Bournemouth occupying the top five, Frank, formerly of Brentford, emphasized the league's unprecedented competitiveness. "I think in general the Premier League this season is the most competitive Premier League I've seen. This is my fifth year here," Frank said. He noted the thin margins between sides, referencing comments from Liverpool's Arne Slot on a recent Aston Villa game and highlighting the expanded contention beyond the traditional big six to include Newcastle and others like Brighton and Bournemouth.
Frank acknowledged Manchester United's lack of European commitments under Ruben Amorim as a significant boost for their top-four push. "No doubt it's an advantage, no doubt," he insisted, adding that while Tottenham aims to compete on multiple fronts for status, money, and ambitions, the extra preparation time without midweek games provides freshness that matters.
Squad depth is crucial for such demands, as evidenced by Arsenal's £250 million summer spending despite just four league losses last season. Under Frank, Tottenham added Mohammed Kudus, Joao Palhinha, Xavi Simons, and Randal Kolo Muani in their first transfer window. Yet injuries plague the squad, notably striker Dominic Solanke, sidelined since August 23 with an ankle issue. After minor surgery in early October, Frank expressed cautious optimism: "I do hope so. I would say let's see what happens after the international break. We are still going steps forward. It's on track so far." He doubts Solanke will return before 2026.