Thomas Frank has his say on Tottenham’s hierarchy and outside noise and chants from fans

Thomas Frank has his say on Tottenham’s hierarchy, as well as outside noise and chants from fans calling for his sacking.

He spoke of Spurs’ season so far, the relationship with the owners, changes at the club, the reaction from fans after the draw at Burnley, and also issued a message to the supporters.

Interviewer: Right, firstly, positive. Many congratulations on Wednesday night. Top four Champions League, you must be delighted.

Thomas: Yeah, thank you very much, I am. The club, the team, staff, fans, everyone, we are all. So that was the first step and I look forward to the round of 16s when we arrive there. But yeah, it’s all about City for something.

Interviewer: Quite a season, I mean, top four in a 36 team league and then 14th in the league. I bet you couldn’t even begin to envisage that at the start of the season.

Thomas: That definitely wouldn’t have been my guess or prediction if I look back at it. I knew this season would be, tough is not the right word, but I knew it would be a transitional season. I knew that we have big ambitions, we really want to do well. We all know where we want to get to. But where the club and the teams come from to where we want to go, I knew that would be a transition, it would ups and downs. I fully expected us to be higher, the ambition is to be higher in the Premier League table, have done even better. That’s the disappointment, that’s what we’re working hard on. I think we look more consistent, more competitive, especially the last 10 games. Also before, there’s been an up and down, but it looks the right direction. The last three games, definitely we’re going there and that’s what we need to keep true.

Interviewer: There has been noise, West Ham, Burnley. Do you think after Wednesday, that qualification, you’ve earned the right to stop the noise for a bit?

Thomas: I think when you are in a big club like Tottenham, with huge ambitions and a fantastic, massive fan base and you’re not where you want to be, there will always be noise. That I expect and it should be noise. What I know is that we will get there in the end and we’ll pull through this and then we’ll be in a better place and there will be less noise.

Interviewer: After West Ham, it was a really disappointing defeat, because it felt like a must-win and it ended up being a defeat. You obviously revealed you had lunch with Vinai and others. Was there any feelings for you thinking, was there any worry that they might have considered doing something different? Was there any concerns?

Thomas: No. I would say that it’s not about me, but I understand how the football works, of course. It’s easier to only blame the head coach. I think the feeling I have is that it’s a very committed playing squad. It’s a very committed staff. It’s a very committed leadership at the top of the club, in Vinai and Johan. It’s very committed ownership and I feel the support from everyone. I’ve done that from day one and I still feel it. Of course, it’s been windy and stormy weather. When we’re not hitting where we want to do, but I think we need to get better results, no doubt about that. But all the underlying things behind the scenes, we’re going the right way and hopefully all that work will materialise in consistently good performances and wins.

Romero puts his hands up as Tottenham fans aim chants at Thomas Frank after draw with Burnley

Interviewer: And I know you don’t want to make excuses, but Daniel Levy was here for 25 years. That’s a long time in football. Vinai is still relatively new. There’s been a lot of change upstairs. You’ve not really said too much about that in press conferences, but is it fair to reflect that there’s still a lot of change going on at this football club, people are still bedding in into their own roles?

Thomas: Yeah, I think that’s fair. I think Daniel was such an integral part of the club. So there’s, of course, new ways of doing things into it. I think the senior people, a lot of senior people have been changed in the organisation. I think all for the better. I think it looks like it’s going really in the right direction. And the better we get to know each other, Vinai, Johan, the different directors, me, the better we will be.

Interviewer: Just looking at the Burnley game, you know, fans have a right to express their views, but it’s hard to lose your smile. But how hard was that walking off the pitch when some fans were clearly making noise? How hard is that?

Thomas: No, of course, that’s hard. Of course it is. And when you feel that you played a game again, where you could have gotten more out of it and you don’t get it, that’s tough. Of course it is. It was also a good study in English football culture because the whole stand at Burnley was singing again ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’. So from everyone from 12-year-old kids to 25-year-olds to 70-year-olds. That’s the way it is. I understand that.

Interviewer: You’ve never had it at Brentford?

Thomas: No, no, no.

Interviewer: It’s new for you?

Thomas: Yeah, yeah. But I experienced it in Brentford. Yeah, yeah. So it is what it is.

Interviewer: Would you like to avoid it?

Thomas: Yes, of course. You prefer not to have that. But a couple of things. One, I work very hard every day. Everything I can do with a lot of good people to make sure we turn this around. I’m not in doubt at all we’re in there. Two, I’m grounded. I know, how can I say, to show resilience. I said it before, I think I’ve got good values. I know reality and I have perspective on life. So I think that’s helpful.

Angry Tottenham fan confronts owner Vivienne Lewis, telling her to sack Thomas Frank and ‘sell up’

Fans make feelings known with Thomas Frank and Tottenham booed after defeat to West Ham

Interviewer: When people talk to me about Spurs, the first things I say to them, I say, well, you don’t have Son this season. You’ve not had Kulusevski all season. You’ve not had Maddison all season. You’ve only just had Solanke. I’m saying that to people. You never say it to other people. You never, it’s not an excuse. It’s fact. You never say it. Do you ever feel like, oh, sometimes you should defend yourself a bit more?

Thomas: Yeah, definitely feel I should defend my, definitely feel that sometimes I would like to defend a little bit, myself a little bit more.

Interviewer: That’s 70, 80 goals out of a side and assists from last season.

Thomas: Yeah, it is. You’re right. I think actually I calculated the other day that I think it’s for the whole season with all competition, I think it is, what was it, 50, 60 goals and almost the same amount of assist from those four players. And that’s difficult to replace, especially with younger players or new players coming into the club or new players coming into the club from a different league. That is just difficult. So that no doubt, that’s part of the reason why I haven’t been on three floor in no doubt.

Interviewer: What’s the message to some supporters who just don’t care? They want, they just, they want to change. They want someone different. What’s the message to them?

Thomas: First and foremost, we are here for the supporters. I’m here. The players, everyone wants, they’re supposed to be happy and proud of the team. That’s one thing. I’m working very hard to make sure they will be proud of the team. Still in match moments this season and in good performances. But over time, I’m not in doubt that we will get where we will. I’m very very aware of where we need to come to. Very, very aware on what we need to work on and what we need to do. We are completely aligned the leadership in this club. What we need to do and where we want to go to. And then we just need a little bit of momentum and a little bit of margins with us on the way. And then we’ll get there.

Interviewer: And Frankfurt, three and a half thousand, clapping you and the players. Doesn’t that just show you a couple of wins, easier said than done, but a couple of wins and it can all turn around.

Thomas: Yeah, and that’s the beauty of football. You’re right. A couple of wins, a couple of good performances. Then everyone is a little bit more happy because we all want the same. We want success for Spurs. We want success for this fantastic football club. And that was a nice feeling to see the happy faces on the fans.

Interviewer: And can I ask you, so even my shifts changed when potentially then, you know, we have so much going on with Spurs and defeat. You know what it’s like at a big club. How have you been like? What have you been like at home? You know, like the West Ham game, for example, or Burnley. Have you been, is it been hard to switch off? Can you watch a programme or something different? Can you switch off?

Thomas: I would say it’s definitely more fun to win football matches. I would put it that way. Of course, it’s tough when you don’t get the wins and enough consistent performances and you’re working very, very hard every single day. And actually, quite a few times you do many things right, but it just don’t materialise to the win because of swing of a leg, of one situation where and you’re working with human beings. That’s tough. But hey, it’s head down and stay calm, carry on. And that’s what I need to do.

Interviewer: Well, you’re always smiling. The sun’s shining. I wish you the very best over the next few games.