Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has openly described his team as being in a transition phase, questioning their status as a true Champions League club after qualifying via the Europa League. Despite recent struggles, including just one win in their last eight Premier League games, Frank remains optimistic about building something special. The comments come ahead of a crucial match against Crystal Palace.
Thomas Frank, Tottenham Hotspur's head coach, has been candid about the challenges facing his side in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports. He acknowledged that while Tottenham are a Champions League club on paper, their qualification stemmed from winning the Europa League rather than a top-four finish in the Premier League last season, where they ended 17th.
"Honestly, I think we are in a transition phase, because yes, we are a Champions League club, but are we a Champions League club? We only qualified because we won the Europa League. We didn't qualify because we were one of the four or five best clubs in the Premier League last season. We finished 17th," Frank said.
Currently sitting 14th in the Premier League with 22 points from 17 games, Tottenham have endured a tough run, securing only one victory in their last eight league matches and suffering consecutive defeats to Nottingham Forest and Liverpool. Their form shows stark contrasts: fifth in the away table but near the bottom at home. Key absences for the upcoming clash include Cristian Romero and Xavi Simons, both suspended after red cards against Liverpool.
Despite the frustrations, Frank highlighted positives, such as improved consistency from players like Micky van de Ven, Romero, and Richarlison, who have been more available this season. He also noted progress in set-piece performance, moving from the bottom to the top of the league standings in that area. The squad has been impacted by departures like Heung-Min Son and long-term injuries to James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski.
Frank drew parallels to his first managerial role at Brondby, emphasizing the need for patience in building a competitive culture amid the demands of dual competitions. "I'm 100 per cent convinced that [we can create something very magical] and we will do that," he added, stressing daily work on consistency and an offensive mindset. Tottenham face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday, December 28, 2025, at 4:30pm UK time—a match Frank views as vital for turning their fortunes.
