Thomas Frank: Tottenham boss talks boos from supporters as he says he’s hopeful for the board | Football news

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has admitted that he will not be able to win over every Spurs fan following his disappointing defeat at home to West Ham on Saturday.

Spurs are winless in 2026, and pressure is mounting on Frank as the Tottenham board hold talks over his future following a 2-1 defeat at relegation-threatened Hammers and fans have continued to make their feelings known in recent weeks.

Frank will lead a depleted squad against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League first leg on Tuesday night, with only the top 11 players to be selected.

However, another defeat may cost the Danish head coach, but he has managed to win over fans who are not keen on him.

“I think you can say, in this game, you always need to show toughness,” Frank said in a press conference before the game.

“I was listening to something the other day where the three biggest things in showing toughness are one, you have good values. I consider myself a guy with very good values.

“Two, you know the truth – and the truth is that one out of five people usually don’t like you, no matter what you do. One out of five people like you, no matter what you do. And then there’s three out of five people who, if you’re well behaved, respectful, honest, do your best, they’re usually moved.

“So, no matter what you do, the fact is that someone is not going to like you.

“Finally, have a perspective on life, which I have in abundance.

“I keep doing what I do, what I believe in.

“When your back is against the wall, you fight and that’s what I do. I have energy, I fight.

“It’s about making noise, stay calm, carry on.

“In the last three games where we’ve scored at half-time, the way they’ve come out and responded is a big thing. They responded brilliantly and we should have won more.

Sometimes it’s just a ball that happens when you’re in that temptation.

“Still working hard? Still trying hard? Still believing? I can clearly see signs of that in every game.

“Then, of course, even the best coach in the world – Pep Guardiola – says that I am nothing but my players. I am nothing but the best players there are – and I think it is fair to say, they have never been found enough at the same time.

“That makes it very difficult, but no problem. I’m happy to take the blame, as long as everyone supports the players.”

Frank ‘feels honest’ from Spurs management

Despite the growing speculation about his future, Frank is adamant that he still has the support of the powers that be, saying he felt ‘trusted’ in recent discussions with those at the club.

“I have been feeling trusted along the way. I have said that every press conference, there is support and support,” he said.

“I had lunch with Nick [Beucher] and Vinai [Venkatesham, CEO] and John [Lange, sporting director] today, everything is fine.

“I know it’s part of the media circus and my focus is to do everything I can to win tomorrow against Dortmund.

“I’ve said it many times and I’ll say it again, as long as we win football games and make sure we win enough of them, everyone will support us.

“It’s not about me, it’s about supporting the team, supporting the players.”

Solanke will replace Tel in the Champions League team

One player Frank will be hoping to help turn things around against Dortmund is Dominic Solanke, who has confirmed his return to Spurs’ Champions League squad as a replacement for Mathys Tel.

Article 31.14 c of the UEFA rules and regulations states that a team can pick up a player if the player has been ill or injured for 60 days.

Tel replaced Solanke in the team to play with Slavia Prague in December, but according to UEFA rules, Solanke can still return to the club instead of Tel, but no other Spurs player.

Speaking about the situation on Monday afternoon, Frank said: “I have made a decision.

“The way the rules are, the only choice was Dom or Mathys in the team and I chose Dom.

“I think Mathys has done really well in the last few games and that’s crazy; if I had to pick out of all the fit players, he’d start tomorrow.

“But I could choose between the two of them and now he is no longer in the squad, so it is difficult to take it from Mathys.

“When it rains, it pours.”

The fans have turned against Frank but he believes that he can win them over

Jamie Weir for Sky Sports News:

“Frank seems confident that he has the full support of the officials.

“He was pressed for lunch and whether he had been given a guarantee that he would still work tomorrow night against Borussia Dortmund and he didn’t really agree.

“He seems incredibly confident that they have the right idea and he will be given time to change it at Tottenham. He is a man under pressure at the moment.

“History can tell you that it is very difficult to come back from that [boos after full-time]. In the past, if the fans turn to any club, it is very difficult to win the fans.

“It has become common for the players to come and be scolded when it comes to the break and during the full time, he does not seem confident that they can change things. It is clear that most of the fans have turned their backs on Thomas Frank.

“He still hopes that if the results change, the fans will change too.”