Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Fulham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Frank confirmed he has no fresh injury concerns with Radu Dragusin not yet fit to start and Cristian Romero unavailable through suspension.

• He added that none of his long-term absentees are nearing a return.

• On Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski: "I'd love to have them ready to play for us, but they're unavailable, other players need to step up. It's much easier to say they're in, when available, rather than put a time-frame on it."

• However, Randal Kolo Muani is fit to start after scoring his first two goals for the club against parent club Paris St-Germain on Wednesday: "Yeah, he will be fit enough to start against Fulham. I think he performed well, his best performance so far. It was exciting. Now it's about doing it consistently, every game."

• Reflecting on the 5-3 defeat in Paris after after Sunday's 4-1 loss against Arsenal, Frank said: "I am pleased with the performance and response we got from the players against PSG. I think the aggression in the high pressure, the forwardness and intensity should have earned us a point or points against PSG but some randomness and game management meant we didn't. That is what we have to learn from."

• How does he remain calm under pressure?: "Trust my experience, trust my staff, my players, the club, the leadership - that's key for us to progress as a structure. Just to keep doing that, keep believing, keep working. Always one more conversation, one more video clip, one more meeting, one more training session, constantly try to improve bits, know where you want to go, try to improve the culture, the style of play every single day. That's the key."

• On whether teenagers Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall could start together in the Premier League: "I think if you perform like you did against the European champions away from home, you're ready to start in the Premier League."

• Is the visit of Fulham is a must-win game?: "I'm very aware a top performance and a win will be very helpful. I go into every game believing we will win. I need to make sure we're well prepared, to pick the best possible team."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Bardi
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

There was very little hope before kick-off. A fool's hope at best. Maybe Paris St-Germain would be so relaxed after watching our capitulation at the weekend that they would turn up wearing Christmas jumpers and holding a glass of wine, so we could catch them out like we did in the summer.

And for 50 minutes, it looked like we had fooled them again. Spurs found something sorely missing from the north London derby: passion, drive and their shooting boots.

The midfield trio of Pape Sarr, Lucas Bergvall and Rodrigo Bentancur passed the ball to each other. They looked well-drilled and, just as we were thinking that Thomas Frank had stumbled upon a system, our masks were whipped off by the European champions and Spurs became the same ragtag bunch that were thrashed at Arsenal.

A sloppy penalty, a gift and a fumble at a corner put the Parisians out of sight despite Randal Kolo Muani doing two-thirds of Gareth Bale at the San Siro.

So, where does this leave Frank?

Of course, there is a caveat that PSG and, begrudgingly, Arsenal, are two of the strongest teams in Europe at the moment. However, a second heavy capitulation in a week leaves serious doubt about the Dane's ability to manage this group of players.

Individual errors are something that have haunted every man who has stepped into the Tottenham dugout. This was a mixture of sloppiness and tactical naivety. We left world-class players free to shoot at will. The edge of Spurs' penalty area has become a happy hunting ground for anyone capable from long range.

Tottenham had started the game focused and energetic, but as their batteries started to run low, gaps and mistakes appeared. By 70 minutes, they were a different team from the one that went in front twice.

Losing to PSG is not an 'end-of-days' scenario. The team, despite their faults, gave it their all, but it may be a foreshadowing of what is to come. Fulham at home is suddenly a six-pointer and all the other cliches.

Frank needs to find an identity, other than energy, because right now, we are a team that plays as the wind blows. We could be good, but we are mostly messy.

Find more from Bardi at The Extra Inch, external

We asked for your views on Tottenham's defeat by Paris St-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Here are some of your comments:

Tony: I thought it was a great performance, 10 out of 10 compared to Saturday's 2 out of 10. We fought for every ball but they scored two fantastic goals and are a world-class team with fantastic players. If we can take that performance into the rest of the season, we will be on the right track.

Dave: Much, much better. We were combative and really gave it a go. In this kind of form, PSG are a tough proposition for anyone, so for me, proud of the boys and hope this shuts down some of the 'Is Frank the right guy for us?' chatter. He's only been in the job since June. Let's get behind the team and the manager and see where we are at the end of the season.

Emilio: Great first half performance taking the game to them. Shame they equalised so close to half time. Much improved on last weekend's game but we can't make basic mistakes at the back as these teams will punish you. There won't be many teams going to Paris and getting a win, but even they are not invincible.

David: Three of the five goals Tottenham conceded were from basic mistakes and lack of concentration. Spurs could have won this game if they had been more focused.

Laurence: 'Improved Spurs performance'? Are people having a laugh? It was men against boys again as it was on Sunday against Arsenal. I've followed Spurs for the best part of 70 years and this is just about the sloppiest Spurs team of them all. Sure we scored three but let's be honest, we were clearly inferior. Only Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani busted a gut but it's been obvious to me that recruitment continues to rear its ugly head.

Ian: This is worse than last year, plus we won't win anything and will be outside of the top six. Ok we might end up seventh or eighth but that is not better, not impressed. Thomas Frank is failing badly.

Nick: Completely outplayed, I don't think the players nor supporters like Thomas Frank and I am completely devoid of any faith in him. Shots on goal from open play are surely at record low numbers and a couple of goals doesn't mask that. Commentators keep saying they finished 17th, but same squad when fit came fifth the year before and they have signed a heap more players. One game vs Manchester City has been enjoyable to watch under Frank against decent opposition. I keep reading how good tactically Frank is supposed to be but he looks way out of his depth.

Former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson says Thomas Frank's side were "masters of their own downfall" against a strong Paris St-Germain at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.

He observed that, unlike in Sunday's north London derby, the commitment of Spurs players could not be questioned as they pressed high and showed a real competitive edge.

However, they were ultimately undone by momentary lapses that will always risk fatal punishment against the European champions.

"Masters of their own downfall, or at least the start of it, because for an hour they played so well," said Robinson on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "They conceded two extremely good goals from Vitinha, which any team could have conceded.

"And then, inexplicable defending.

"Tottenham had a different attitude, with their application, their work rate, their pressing and they started higher up the field. There was a lot more to be positive about.

"Unlike at the weekend [against Arsenal], Frank can put his finger on things that went wrong rather than scratching his head and thinking he didn't recognise his team.

"If Sunday hadn't happened, then there would be no discussion about this game and the Tottenham setup.

"When the teams came out, we thought that they would play a back five but they didn't. They played a midfield that had legs, as in Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Pape Matar Sarr they had three willing runners that would get back and plug the gaps while also supporting Randal Kolo Muani and Richarlison in offering an attacking threat."

Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

And below, see what the Match of the Day pundits thought of Tottenham's display.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

Tottenham are keen on Spain striker Samu Aghehowa from Porto, with Arsenal and Chelsea also interested in the 21-year-old. (Caught Offside), external

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Tottenham boss Thomas Frank, speaking to TNT Sports: "I am very pleased with the performance. Today was much more the identity of the team, the bravery and aggressiveness of the team.

"There were lots of positives, the two strikers scoring three goals between them, the whole team performed really well. The performance was to get something out of the game, but then you need to have the margins with you, but we can't concede some of the goals we did.

"Vitinha is the best midfielder in the world. He will be the next Ballon d'Or winner."

On Randal Kolo Muani's performance: "It can definitely be a turning point, but the two goals will give him confidence going forward. He has struggled a bit with confidence but now he is looking better and better."

On conceding five goals: "Of course, it will always be concerning when we concede four and five, but these were two completely different games. This was more of what I want. Today we competed. Today was a team with soul and character, and you need that."

Midfielder Archie Gray, speaking to TNT Sports: "We played against a top opponent tonight, they are probably the best team in Europe at the moment. There were some good moments we can take into Fulham.

"We scored some goals, there are things we can work on, but they are a top, top team, and there are moments you will suffer against them.

"They are the best team in Europe, and they are relentless in every aspect of their game, and they have that individual class. They are a top team, and there are things we can learn from."

Did you know?

• Tottenham Hotspur have conceded 4+ goals in back-to-back games in all competitions for the first time since May 2003 under Glenn Hoddle. Spurs conceded five goals away from home in major European competition for the very first time.

• Richarlison opened the scoring in this match in the 35th minute with Spurs' first shot, netting in three consecutive matches in all competitions for the first time since December 2023.

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Thomas Frank went into this tough assignment against the Champions League holders with his methods under serious scrutiny after the timid, conservative manner of Tottenham Spurs' defeat against Arsenal in the north London derby.

And yet Frank, and indeed his team, responded positively, as he ditched the five-man defence that drew so much criticism in favour of an orthodox back four afforded protection by Archie Gray and Rodrigo Bentancur.

For an hour, Spurs matched Paris St-Germain, leading twice, with one of the crucial moments their failure to protect a lead until half-time when they switched off, allowing Vitinha to equalise in spectacular fashion seconds before the break.

Even then, Randal Kolo Muani put them back in front before PSG hit the sort of roll that has done for better teams than Spurs in the Champions League.

Frank's team selection looked like it had one eye on Saturday night's home game against Fulham, which they will now go into with only three wins in 12 matches.

Joao Palhinha, Mohammed Kudus, Destiny Udogie and Wilson Odobert were on the bench, along with Xavi Simons, but for so long there was much to encourage Frank.

Spurs were positive, adopting a man-for-man strategy out of possession, showing more attacking intent in the opening stages than they did in the entire match against Arsenal.

The attitude was good but defensive carelessness, summed up when Pape Matar Sarr was robbed in possession before Fabian Ruiz put PSG in front for the first time, proved their undoing.

Spurs have now dropped to 16th in the Champions League table, making victory against Slavia Prague on the next match day vital.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Spurs' performance

Come back on Thursday for a selection of your replies

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Spurs head coach Thomas Frank makes five changes from the team well beaten in the north London derby at Arsenal.

Frank's formation will be intriguing, but Pedro Porro comes in for Destiny Udogie, Pape Matar Sarr is in for Joao Palhinha, Archie Gray comes in with Kevin Danso out, forward Randal Kolo Muani is in against parent club PSG with Mohammed Kudus dropping to the bench. Lucas Bergvall also starts with Wilson Odobert a substitute.

PSG XI: Chevalier; Zaire-Emery, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Joao Neves, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Kvaratskhelia, Ndjantou, Barcola

Subs: Safonov, James, Beraldo, Zabarnyi, Ramos, Dembele, Lee, Hernandez, Mayulu, Mbaye

Tottenham XI: Vicario, Richarlison, Gray, Bergvall, Romero, Pedro Porro, Spence, Sarr, Bentancur, van de Ven, Kolo Muani

Subs: Kinsky, Austin, Danso, Palhinha, Xavi, Udogie, Kudus, Odobert, Davies, Scarlett, Thompson, Williams-Barnett

There are nine games in the Champions League on Tuesday, including three involving Premier League clubs, and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Copenhagen v Kairat (17:45)

• Pafos v Monaco (17:45 )

• Arsenal v Bayern Munich - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Atletico Madrid v Inter Milan

• Frankfurt v Atalanta

• Liverpool v PSV Eindhoven

• Olympiakos v Real Madrid

• Paris St-Germain v Tottenham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Sporting v Club Brugge

Kick-offs 20:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to 5 Live commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Arsenal v Bayern Munich" or "ask BBC Sounds to play PSG v Tottenham".

Find out more about how to listen to football on BBC Sounds

Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

There will also be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One on Wednesday, from 22:40 to 00:00.

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Tottenham have been playing like an extremely efficient relegation-battler team this season.

Thomas Frank's side sit ninth in the league and are one of four teams tied on 18 points after 12 Premier League games.

Only Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea have scored more goals than Spurs so far this campaign, but in contrast, only Burnley have taken fewer shots (98).

Spurs do, however, have the best shot-conversion rate in the league.

Only Burnley, Sunderland and Aston Villa have a lower xG as well, so it is worth noting that Villa are getting results without playing very well too.

Switching to Spurs' defensive record, goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has been one of the best shot-stoppers in the league - only Crystal Palace's Dean Henderson (4.2) has prevented more goals than his 3.6.

However, only Burnley, West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Wolves have a higher xG against and only four teams have a better goal difference than Spurs' six.

A lot has been talked about Tottenham's struggles to progress the ball and create chances and here is a stat I've seen that sums it up remarkably: Spurs have made just four through balls in the Premier League this season, which is the fewest of the 20 clubs.

The Opta definition of a through ball is when a pass splits the opposition defence for a team-mate to run on to.

For comparison, Arsenal have made the most with 43, while even bottom side Wolves have made twice as many as Spurs (nine).

This highlights Frank's need to get players like James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski back as soon as possible.

Jordan Butler
BBC Sport journalist

Swathes of Tottenham Hotspur fans remain unconvinced that Thomas Frank is the right man to take the club forward, and those dissenting voices have grown louder after another listless performance in Sunday's north London derby.

Tottenham's lack of creativity has been something of a theme under Frank, and his switch to a back three/five was also heavily criticised. It remains to be seen whether he sticks with that tactical approach here, given that he employed a similar system in the penalty shootout loss to Paris St-Germain in his first Spurs game.

The Parisians were humbled by Bayern Munich in their last European outing – their only loss at the Parc des Princes this season – but they have never suffered back-to-back Champions League home defeats in their history. A deflated Tottenham look unlikely to alter that record on Wednesday.

Did you know?

• This is defending champions PSG's 18th Champions League campaign. They have featured in every season since 2012-13, reaching the knockout stages in all 13 of the most recent campaigns.

• The Parisians finished 15th in last season's league phase after four wins, a draw and three defeats.

• None of PSG's previous 103 Champions League matches have ended goalless.

Image source, Getty Images

Key PSG players - Nuno Mendes and Bradley Barcola

Portugal left-back Mendes is considered one of the best defenders in world football. He scored an exceptional goal in the 4-0 win over Atalanta in matchday one and added another in the 7-2 thrashing of Bayer Leverkusen on matchday three. The 23-year-old stepped up to score the winning penalty in PSG's Super Cup success over Tottenham after playing the full 120 minutes.

Meanwhile, Barcola was labelled a "very decisive player" by club captain Marquinhos. The France international will likely need to be, with Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue both sidelined. He has scored five goals this term, including one from the bench in Saturday's win over Le Harve.

PSG squad summary

Right-back Achraf Hakimi remains out with the ankle injury he suffered against Bayern in week four, and he joins Doue (hamstring) and Dembele (calf) on the sidelines.

Nick Godwin
BBC Radio London reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Thomas Frank and his Tottenham team have got themselves into a position of maximum danger.

They have somehow managed to save their worst two performances of the season for their recent games against Arsenal and Chelsea.

This, in the eyes of many fans, is simply unforgivable. They've been asked to be patient for a while now.

However you cannot play like that in those games and not expect an avalanche of criticism.

Talk of injuries, transitional periods and adapting to a new style of play simply falls on deaf ears when Spurs fans have to go to work on Monday morning knowing their Arsenal and Chelsea-supporting colleagues have enough ammunition for weeks of merciless ribbing.

It is not as though the defeats themselves have caused all this upset. Spurs fans have lost plenty of London derbies in the past.

But the abject nature of the losses, devoid of attacking intent, with no plan B and absolutely no powers of recovery, means this manager and this team have nowhere to hide in the face of overwhelming criticism.

So the situation for Thomas Frank and his side has changed very quickly over the past few weeks.

They have gone from diligently carving out a new identity for themselves to a full-blown crisis with unknown consequences.

Frank is now under huge pressure to improve results and performances immediately. His previous cover has gone. Meanwhile, this squad is under the microscope like never before.

Serious questions are being asked about whether some of these players are equipped to take the team back to a respectable Premier League position after last season's disintegration.

Everybody, all of a sudden, is on borrowed time.

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Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Champions League game against Paris St-Germain at Parc des Princes (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Franks says everyone is available from the squad picked at Arsenal.

• Reflecting on a chastening defeat against their biggest rivals, Frank offered: "I watched the game back, it was a hard watch. We were not good. The performance was not good and I am not running away form that in any way. The biggest thing for me but the most disappointing was we were not able to compete."

• He continued: "We had 53 situations where it was duels or second balls and we came out on top of 17 of those, lost 36. If you don't do that, it's the basic, it is very hard to win any football match. Very simple, we were not aggressive enough when we pushed forward or securing the ball, not landing in the areas where the second ball landed."

• The former Brentford boss said he was "convinced" Spurs will bounce back with a performance at PSG.

• Speaking about how his squad has reacted to the Arsenal defeat: "I think it's been two good days with talks and meetings. Mainly about us, how we improve, go forward. In football there are setbacks. It was a setback Sunday. It's all about how you react. One thing for sure, you are not going through life without setbacks."

• Frank was asked how important it is Spurs stick with a manager and give them time, responding with humour: "Very important. Part of taking this job was to sit here and have the challenges. Part of that is to manage those setbacks, learn from it and move on. One thing I am 1,000% sure of, I know how to build a team and a club and along the way we will do that."

• On Randal Kolo Muani: "He wants to perform. Every player wants to show their best. He came very happy to join Tottenham and then he got a dead leg that took longer than we thought. Then the broken jaw, so it's been stop-start. Plus he came and was fit but not top fit. So all that was him playing catch up. I am convinced we will see more and more from him. I like his link-up play, I think he is very good at that. His runs in behind and ability to go one-v-one."

• On criticism of his use of a back five at Arsenal: "I don't read anything, articles. We didn't win enough duels, we were not aggressive enough, going forward enough, if you play 4-3-3, 4-3-2-1, it doesn't matter if you are not doing enough of that."

• On three wins in 11 games and why it has unravelled: "Sometimes there will always be performances up and down. In 60 games in a season there will be 10-12 perfect, 30 average and then below that. It's about being competitive and then keep doing everything we can to be better and create chances to win matches. My teams will always score goals so we will keep working hard on it."

• Do Tottenham take enough risks? "I think we do. Maybe we should do more. I think it's fair to ask the question - we are not creating enough chances, which is reality. It's my job to make sure we do what we can to make more and more."

Read more on the Tottenham news conference here

Ali Speechly
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

"The game is about glory. It is about doing things in style, with a flourish, about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom."

No doubt Thomas Frank will have heard this Danny Blanchflower quote more times that he'd care to count. It is a shame he wasn't motivated by it for Sunday's North London derby.

Up until now I have enjoyed Frank's pragmatism. A welcome breath of fresh air after the recklessness of Angeball – early signs this season were that Frank had improved our defensive play, and players seemed clearer in their roles.

However, our struggle to score goals and now that disastrous performance at the Emirates has me questioning: instead of providing stability and confidence in his players, is Frank's pragmatism diminishing their courage?

In his post-match interviews, Frank maintained that it didn't matter which system he used because it was his team's inability to win the duels which ultimately cost them.

I would argue that it was precisely because of Frank's approach against Arsenal that Spurs were unable to compete with confidence.

Players need to feel psychologically safe in order to be brave in the battle. Instead, the negativity of Frank's system facilitated a fearful approach from the players; they sat back and waited for Arsenal to come to them, never truly looking convinced that they would withstand the inevitable waves of attack.

Simply put, Frank got it wrong in a game that means the most to the fans. Even so, I still want him to be given the time it takes to develop a team – particularly a squad that he has inherited, rather than selected.

Like it or not, we don't need to look too far across North London to see what managers can build if given enough time.

Find more from Ali Speechly at Women Of The Lane, external and on Instagram, external

On the latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, the panel discuss the building pressure around Tottenham boss Thomas Frank after Sunday's heavy defeat at Arsenal in the north London derby.

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton described the negativity around Frank as "deeply unfair", adding that it is exaggerated because the loss was to a fierce rival.

With Spurs three points off of the top four, Sutton said the start to the season has not been "disastrous" and that questioning Frank's credentials to manage a bigger side is disrespectful.

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

Matthew Howarth
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Ex-Tottenham midfielder Danny Murphy reflected on his former team's display at Arsenal:

"That was as dominant an Arsenal performance against Tottenham as I've seen for a long time. There was a massive gulf between the two teams.

"The Tottenham system with five at the back - be it a 3-4-3 or 5-4-1- can cause the other team problems if, when got the ball, they are brave enough to push wing-backs up a bit higher and get up the pitch to support the front three.

"But Arsenal's quality and physicality just pinned Spurs back. And of course after the second goal, which they felt a little bit harshly done by because of the men in front of the keeper, Spurs were then in a real predicament.

"If they came out and really went after Arsenal, they would have got cut to pieces but also 2-0 was a mountain to climb because the Gunners do not concede many.

"But they will be hugely disappointed - they didn't really lay a glove on Arsenal. Afer the first 20 minutes, they could have been braver, because they had given themselves a platform to do that.

"It is a huge disappointment for Tottenham to lose any north London derby but to lose it in the manner they did was very poor.

"They got completely overrun in the end really - outplayed and out-worked and didn't really hurt Arsenal enough.

"There was already a little bit of discontent at their home games. Now, because of that performance, that's going to grow. The players are going to have to stand up and be counted and Frank is going to learn a lot about his players in the next couple of weeks.

"He is going to learn who is up for it, who has got some courage and who wants to get on the ball and make things happen."

Read more over here