Frank wants Tottenham to adopt ‘front-footed’ approach even if it ends in defeat

Thomas Frank has said he much preferred Tottenham’s “front-footed” performance in their 5-3 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain to their cautious approach against Arsenal a few days earlier.

Frank was heavily criticised for fielding a back five at the Emirates Stadium for Sunday’s 4-1 defeat and his side responded with a more ambitious display against the European champions. Spurs led twice before being overwhelmed by Vitinha’s hat-trick.

Randal Kolo Muani, on loan from PSG, scored his first goals for Spurs and the teenagers Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray started in central midfield. They could retain their places against Fulham on Saturday as Tottenham attempt to win at home in the Premier League for the first time since the opening weekend but the captain, Cristian Romero, is suspended. With pressure mounting on Frank after three wins in the past 12 games, he wants Spurs to continue to show attacking endeavour.

“Over all the years I’ve been in charge, no matter if it was when I was with my under-eights team in Frederiksværk 30 years ago to now, I want to play offensive front-footed football,” he said. “But probably also in those 30 years they could pick games from the under-eights at Frederiksværk to Brentford where it didn’t work for whatever reason.

“It didn’t work Sunday against Arsenal. The plan was to be front foot-footed. We weren’t. After Sunday I was angry, painful, hurt. [After PSG] I was irritated, but the feeling in the body was better because we really, really, really competed. There was more of the identity I want to show.”

Archie Gray (left), Lucas Bergvall (centre) and Randal Kolo Muani all performed well in the defeat by Paris Saint-Germain. Photograph: Jean Catuffe/DPPI/Shutterstock

This time last year, Frank’s Brentford had the best home record in the Premier League with seven wins and a draw from their opening eight matches at the Gtech Community Stadium, scoring 26 and conceding 14. Tottenham have the second-worst home record this season with five points from six games, having secured only three victories in 20 home league matches, most played under Ange Postecoglou last season. Frank has emphasised the need for patience but remains hopeful that he can create a similar chemistry to the one he had at Brentford.

“There, it was a little bit of a journey together and the team clicked at that time,” he said. “They had a front four with Yoane Wissa, Bryan Mbeumo, Kevin Schade and Mikkel Damsgaard. The front three scored 50 goals between them and Dams was unplayable at times.

“So they clicked and that’s what we are working very hard to find now, to make it click. So I’m not in doubt that will come. I hope we see signs of it on Saturday, how we want to do things. And then the wins, the performance, everything, bit by bit, it will be more and more.”