Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has issued a firm warning that he will not permit forward Mathys Tel to depart the club during the January transfer window, despite the player's frustration at being omitted from the Champions League squad. The 20-year-old Frenchman, keen on a loan switch to Paris FC to secure more consistent playing time and bolster his chances for France's World Cup squad, finds his exit route blocked as Frank grapples with a severe injury crisis at Spurs.
Champions League Omission Sparks Loan Desire
Tel's discontent stems from Frank's decision to drop him from Tottenham's Champions League squad for the second time this season, a move that has intensified the youngster's desire for a temporary move away. The Spurs boss, however, is adamant that Tel must remain, citing the club's precarious situation with multiple injuries depleting his options. Frank's stance comes amid mounting pressure on his own position, yet he remains focused on navigating the squad through this turbulent period.
Injury Crisis Forces Unconventional Line-Ups
The depth of Tottenham's injury woes was starkly illustrated during Tuesday's victory over Borussia Dortmund, where Frank was compelled to finish the match with 17-year-old defender Junai Byfield making his debut and right-back Pedro Porro operating in midfield alongside 19-year-old Archie Gray. This makeshift setup underscores the manager's reluctance to lose any further players, particularly with Richarlison sidelined and loanee Randal Kolo Muani failing to make a significant impact since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain.
'It's fair to say we have not many players,' Frank admitted ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash at Burnley. 'The players we have we need to keep. In the Dortmund game with not many available players, it's difficult to change the game when you need it or keep the freshness up.'
Frank's Tough Call on Tel and Solanke
Explaining his decision to exclude Tel from the Champions League squad in favour of Dominic Solanke this week, Frank described it as a purely tactical choice driven by experience. 'My challenge was that it could only be him or Dom. I couldn't sub another player out. If so, I would have done it,' he said. 'It's not nice but it's a football decision. It's not the same as saying I don't like Mathys at all. I chose Dom because of his experience. Luckily, he did very well.'
Frank emphasised that Tel's omission does not reflect a lack of faith, noting that the forward has started four of the last five matches. 'He has done well for us in many ways and started four of the last five, that's a clear signal I trust him and believe he can do something good,' the manager added, acknowledging Tel's professionalism despite his disappointment.
UEFA Squad Rules Under Fire
The situation has prompted Frank to launch a strong critique of UEFA's squad regulations, which he believes are outdated and exacerbate player welfare issues. Tottenham's Champions League squad is limited to 22 senior players instead of the usual 25 due to filling only one of four 'club trained player' quotas, leading to tough choices like Tel's exclusion. In December, Spurs utilised a new UEFA clause to make a change for long-term injury, bringing Tel in for Solanke against Slavia Prague, but this week's rules forced Frank to choose between them for the Dortmund fixture.
'UEFA need to modernise those rules,' Frank asserted. 'When they made the rules, we had six group games, now we have eight. Before, there were no games in January. With the new format, almost every club needs to fight until the end.' He highlighted the increase from three to five substitutions and expanded tournament squads as reasons for reform, stressing, 'It's a big issue for player health.'
Call for Increased Flexibility
Frank advocates for more than the current allowance of three changes to UEFA squads after the league phase, a flexibility he deems essential given the intensified fixture schedule. 'I can't see why that shouldn't be more,' he remarked, with further difficult decisions anticipated after Wednesday's match at Eintracht Frankfurt. The manager's comments reflect a broader concern within football about adapting regulations to contemporary demands, as clubs like Tottenham contend with unprecedented injury lists and compressed calendars.
As the January window progresses, Tel's future remains uncertain, but Frank's resolute stance signals a prioritisation of squad stability over short-term gains. With injuries prompting a move for Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson, Tottenham's recruitment strategy appears focused on reinforcement rather than depletion, leaving Tel to fight for his place amid the manager's public vote of confidence and ongoing appeals for regulatory evolution.
