Thomas Frank said Tottenham’s 3-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest offered a sobering reminder his side remain a “work in progress” and amid increasing scrutiny the head coach reiterated improving Spurs’s fortunes is “not a quick fix”, saying: “If no one gets the time, no one can turn this around.”
Spurs have been hit and miss since Frank took charge in June and are in mid-table in the Premier League after a run of one win in seven top-flight matches, though still only six points off fourth-placed Chelsea. Spurs registered a single shot on target at the City Ground, where Callum Hudson-Odoi scored twice and Ibrahim Sangaré sealed victory with a stunning first-time strike.
Frank cut a calm figure but insisted a “hurricane” was swirling inside of him. Asked whether he felt confident he would be afforded time to revive their form, the Dane said: “I can’t see why not. I think it’s pretty evident that if no one gets the time, no one can turn this around. This is not a quick fix. Today was a very bad performance. No two ways about that, but also know that to change this, this will take some time. No one will want to hear about that, it’s just reality.”
Guglielmo Vicario appeared to be at fault for both of Hudson-Odoi’s goals but Frank defended his goalkeeper’s role in the first, with the Italian playing a short pass to Archie Gray, under pressure from Sangaré, who pinched possession before teeing up Hudson-Odoi. Vicario was badly exposed for Hudson-Odoi’s second, a cross-shot from the left flank.
Asked if he had an issue with Vicario’s role in Forest’s first goal, Frank said: “No … I think you see that every week in the Premier League and from every team all over the world. So there’s no problem with that. Mistakes like that happen. When things are going against us we need to keep doing the right thing and keep our cool heads.”
Frank added he would investigate his defender Djed Spence’s petulant reaction to being withdrawn during the second half as part of a triple substitution. The Spurs full-back, who won promotion to the Premier League with Forest while on loan from Middlesbrough in the 2021-22 season, spread his arms in disbelief as he left the field and then threw a warm-up jacket into the dugout.
Last month Spence apologised to Frank for ignoring him after a home defeat by Chelsea. Of Sunday’s incident, Frank said: “I didn’t see it. I think there can be three reasons: he can be disappointed with his own performance, disappointed with the team’s performance or disappointed to be subbed off. I will ask him.”
