Thomas Frank Stresses ‘Fine Balance’ As He Seeks Improvement From Spurs Stars
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Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has emphasised that it is essential for players to feature consistently and build confidence, ahead of this evening’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth.
Spurs sit 13th in the Premier League with 27 points from 20 games under Frank, while the north London side have also kept their Champions League hopes alive, occupying eleventh place after six matches with knockout stage qualification well within their grasp.
The left-wing position in particular remains unsettled at Tottenham, with Frank having tried several players in the role, including Brennan Johnson, who recently moved to Crystal Palace, Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert, among others.
Mathys Tel started in that position against Sunderland at the weekend and showed promising glimpses, though not enough to make a decisive impact as the match ended 1-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Tel has been looked at by Italian sides for this month’s transfer window, with his lack of regular game time noted.
Frank addressed the challenge of rotating players in positions without a settled starter, specifically focusing on the left-wing role.
He explained that there is a fine balance between giving certain players the trust to play consecutive games to build rhythm and improve their performance, and selecting the right combination of players to suit the tactical approach of the opposition.
The Danish tactician acknowledged that Tel made a positive contribution against Sunderland, but stressed that the priority remains on maintaining overall team balance, ahead of his side facing Bournemouth tonight.
Frank said at a press conference (11:22): “I would say that he [Tel] definitely had a positive impact. Let’s see what will happen against Bournemouth.
“There is also that fine balance of giving some players the trust for a run of games, so that maybe, hopefully, they can find a bit of rhythm and also increase their performance level, and then the tactical approach of the opponents, which players fit to that, and getting the right mix and balance in the team.
“But Mathys in general was positive.”
Tottenham face Bournemouth tonight, followed by an FA Cup clash with Aston Villa on Saturday at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Frank expected to rotate his squad to keep players fresh across two games in four days.
The Lilywhites will be looking to extend their three-match unbeaten league run as they aim to climb the table.
The Danish tactician will also be hoping for support in the January transfer window to strengthen his squad and boost Spurs’ push for a European spot, with the team currently just four points off the top five.
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