Thomas Frank’s Candid Response Following the Setback Against Arsenal

Thomas Frank did not make excuses following Tottenham’s heavy defeat against Arsenal (4-1) in the North London Derby. Under pressure after a performance deemed disastrous by supporters—many of whom left before the final whistle—the Spurs coach acknowledged a tactical error and took “full responsibility” for the failure. Frank admitted he made a mistake by opting for a three-man defense, a decision he had to abandon by halftime as Tottenham was already overwhelmed: “I chose a 5-4-1 setup, I made a smart change at halftime, but they scored in the first minute. 3-0. You know the rest.” The Danish coach emphasized that, “regardless of the system,” his team should have been more aggressive and effective in duels.

Frank also reminded that his project is still under construction, as Tottenham finished last season in 17th place in the Premier League. He acknowledged that his players were too passive against a rival “six years ahead” in development. “I apologize to the supporters. I expected us to be as competitive as we were against Manchester City or PSG, but we did not meet the standard for 90 minutes,” he stated.