Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has issued a firm promise to supporters, declaring his team will break their cycle of defeats 'sooner rather than later'. The pledge comes as Spurs' form has nosedived following a bright start under their new boss.
A Critical Run of Fixtures Begins
Frank's side enter a pivotal sequence of matches, starting with a Premier League trip to face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday. This period is seen as crucial for arresting a slide that has seen the team secure only three victories in their last 12 outings across all competitions.
The manager drew a clear distinction between positive and negative routines within the squad. 'There are good habits and bad habits,' Frank stated. 'And, of course, winning is a good habit and losing is a bad habit.' He emphasised that the focus is on how every individual at the club responds to in-game setbacks, an area he claims the team is working 'very, very hard on'.
Identifying the Root Causes
Frank pointed to specific examples of resilience, such as the comeback draws against Brighton and Bodo/Glimt in September, as evidence of underlying fight. However, the overarching pattern is worryingly familiar to last season under Ange Postecoglou.
Then, as now, a strong opening was undermined once European commitments began. The squad appeared unable to handle the increased physical and mental load, lacking the depth for effective rotation. Despite a relatively gentle Champions League draw, performances have dipped and momentum has stalled.
The recent statistics make for grim reading: Spurs have taken just five points from their last eight Premier League fixtures. Their only wins in the last 12 games came against Copenhagen, Slavia Prague, and Brentford, with European results providing a slight gloss on the overall picture.
The Path to Recovery
Frank believes the upcoming schedule offers a genuine opportunity for change. After the Palace fixture, Tottenham face a run of six winnable league games against Brentford, Sunderland, Bournemouth, West Ham, and Burnley.
'There are bits going the right way, but we are not consistent enough to do that every third or fourth day,' admitted the manager. He illustrated his point by snapping his fingers, explaining the marginal gains required: 'You want a player to do recovery runs 10/10 times and he does it 5/10 times... It maybe five-and-a-half, six, six-and-a-half, seven. That’s how it works.'
Drawing on his past successes at Brondby and Brentford, where he steadily built competitive teams, Frank remains confident. 'I am convinced we will see a similar pattern here,' he asserted. 'I know how to make a competitive team. We will make a very competitive team here as well. It’s coming over time. I know it will come.'
All eyes will now be on Selhurst Park to see if Tottenham can take the first step in turning his conviction into reality.
