Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has openly expressed his frustration, stating it feels like the club is 'cursed' as he confirmed Lucas Bergvall as the fifth player to be ruled out with a serious injury in the last five matches. This latest setback compounds a miserable run of results that has left Frank fighting to keep his job, with the injury crisis this month adding significant pressure.
Bergvall's Ankle Twist Adds to Growing List
Lucas Bergvall faces an absence of up to three months after twisting his ankle in a tackle during Tuesday's impressive Champions League victory against Borussia Dortmund. While Spurs will not put a precise timeline on his recovery until further assessment, fears are mounting that he could be sidelined for two to three months. This timeframe would also rule him out of Sweden's crucial World Cup play-offs scheduled for March.
'It seems like we are cursed or something like that,' said the beleaguered Spurs boss. 'Injuries are a part of football, but there's been a lot of contact injuries and some of them are like, 'OK, what's happening here?' Bergvall, how unlucky is that?'
A Devastating Injury Toll
The list of casualties is extensive and concerning for the North London club. Mohamed Kudus damaged a thigh muscle against Sunderland and is not expected back until April. Rodrigo Bentancur has undergone surgery to repair a hamstring injured at Bournemouth, sidelining him for approximately three months.
Richarlison suffered a hamstring injury during the FA Cup clash with Aston Villa and is unlikely to return before March. Perhaps most devastatingly, Ben Davies is not expected to play again this season after breaking his ankle in a tackle by Jarrod Bowen against West Ham on Saturday – a challenge Frank claimed should have resulted in a red card.
Historical Context and Recent Improvements
This is not Tottenham's first encounter with an injury epidemic. The club was beset by a glut of soft tissue injuries for two years under previous manager Ange Postecoglou, which prompted an internal investigation. This led to wholesale changes within the medical department during the summer of 2024.
Frank pointed to signs that the injury record was showing improvement before this recent crisis, citing Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven as positive examples, along with Richarlison before his injury this month. 'Richarlison has played 12 full 90-minute games,' noted Frank. 'He hasn't done that for I don't know how many years, so that's a big upgrade. Micky and Cuti [Romero] represent big upgrades too.'
Broader Context and Schedule Pressures
The Spurs manager acknowledged that Tottenham are not alone in facing injury challenges, particularly highlighting the intense demands of European football. 'There's something in the match schedule and the amount of games. We are not the only club struggling with injuries at all,' Frank stated. 'Many clubs have that, especially if you play European football and particularly in the Champions League. I think that's a significant factor. The load is just so substantial.'
Despite the current crisis, Frank expressed confidence in the progress made by the medical and performance departments, stating they are 'very happy with the progress they have made.'
Positive Notes and Transfer Speculation
Amid the gloom, there were some positive fitness updates. Dominic Solanke, who made his first start of the season in the Dortmund victory after a lengthy hiatus, came through the match unscathed despite fitness concerns. Destiny Udogie and Xavi Simons also emerged from the Champions League fixture without issues.
Joao Palhinha, who has missed the last two games, is nearing a return, though he might not be ready for Saturday's Premier League fixture against Burnley. Additionally, Pape Matar Sarr has returned from international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Frank also took the opportunity to issue a hands-off warning to clubs reportedly interested in defender Micky van de Ven, with Liverpool among those thought to be monitoring the Dutch centre-back who is under contract until 2029. 'Micky is an excellent player and a fantastic ambassador for this club,' Frank asserted. 'He has potentially had his best season so far. He's fit, strong, good defensively, growing as a leader, and scoring goals. He's a very important player for us this season and for the future.'
As Tottenham navigate this challenging period, the mounting injury list presents a severe test of squad depth and managerial resilience, with Frank hoping the club's misfortune turns around before their season prospects deteriorate further.
