Thomas Frank has expressed grave concerns that Tottenham Hotspur are facing a genuine injury curse, with teenage midfielder Lucas Bergvall now potentially facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines. The 19-year-old sustained an ankle injury during Tuesday's crucial Champions League victory over Borussia Dortmund and will definitely miss this weekend's Premier League fixture against Burnley.
'We Are Cursed': Frank's Fears Over Growing Injury List
The Tottenham head coach did not mince his words when discussing the club's persistent fitness woes. "It seems like we are cursed or something like that," Frank stated candidly. "We keep being very unlucky with injuries, and it looks like Lucas could be a longer one. He's being assessed and we will know more in the next couple of days."
Bergvall's unfortunate knock represents the 19th separate injury suffered by Tottenham players this campaign, placing them joint-top of the Premier League's injury table alongside Arsenal, Chelsea, and Leeds United. The cumulative impact has been severe, with Spurs players missing a staggering 625 days through injury so far this season, a figure only marginally better than Newcastle United's league-worst 640 days.
Mounting Casualties in Frank's Squad
The situation has become particularly acute in recent weeks, with Frank currently missing eight first-team players through various fitness issues. Mohammed Kudus, Rodrigo Bentancur, Richarlison, and Ben Davies have all joined Bergvall in picking up serious problems during Tottenham's last five matches alone.
Compounding these fresh concerns are the long-term absences of creative talents James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, neither of whom have featured at all this season due to their respective injury battles.
Historical Context and Medical Department Support
This is not a new phenomenon for Tottenham, who at this same stage last season had actually sustained more injuries than any other Premier League club. After 22 games last campaign, the tally stood at 25 separate injuries with 707 days lost to fitness issues.
Despite these recurring problems, Frank was quick to defend the club's medical and performance staff. "Overall I'm very happy with medical and performance departments," he affirmed. "We've made progress this year. We always look at what we can do to avoid injuries and how we can get players back as quickly as possible."
The manager drew parallels with his previous experience at Brentford, recalling: "In my third year in the Premier League with Brentford we had a horrendous year and it impacted on the season. There are a lot of moving parts - the match schedule, the amount of games - but we're not the only club struggling with injuries."
Silver Linings Amid the Gloom
There were at least some positive fitness updates emerging from the Dortmund victory. Dominic Solanke, Destiny Udogie, and Xavi Simons all came through the European encounter unscathed, while midfielder João Palhinha is expected to be fit for the Burnley clash.
These minor consolations do little to mask the broader concern at Tottenham, where the injury crisis threatens to undermine their Premier League ambitions and European campaign. As Frank and his medical team await further assessment on Bergvall's ankle problem, the spectre of what the manager describes as a "curse" continues to loom large over the North London club's season.
