Thomas Frank insists Tottenham can still build "something very magical" even as results stay uneven. Spurs sit 14th in the Premier League with 22 points, one worse than at the same stage last season. Yet
the club is also juggling Champions League duties after last year’s Europa League success, leaving Frank to balance short-term demands with long-term plans.
Frank arrived in June, stepping in after Ange Postecoglou was dismissed just 16 days after lifting the Europa League trophy. That win ended a 17-year wait for silverware and delivered Champions League qualification despite a 17th-place league finish. Now Tottenham are 11th in their Champions League group standings, only one point behind the automatic knockout positions.
Under Frank, progress has been steady rather than dramatic, but the head coach believes Spurs remain on track. Tottenham have won only one of their past eight league fixtures, while the recent defeat to Liverpool marked an 11th home loss of 2025. That total is the club’s highest number of home defeats within a single calendar year.
Frank accepts the scale of the job but says the opportunity at Tottenham matches long-held ambitions. "I'm super happy for having the opportunity to get this challenge, this opportunity here at Tottenham," Frank told Sky Sports. "I think I earned it. I think, in a way, I deserve the opportunity, the challenge, which I'm very happy about. "
Frank views the current campaign as a reset after Spurs’ unusual route into Europe’s elite competition. "Honestly, I think we are in a transition phase, because yes, we are a Champions League club, but are we a Champions League club?" Frank said. "We only qualified because we won the Europa League. We didn't qualify because we were one of the four or five best clubs in the Premier League last season. We finished 17th. "
Tottenham’s Champions League record under Frank offers more encouragement than their domestic form. Spurs have lost only once in Europe, a wild 5-3 defeat to holders Paris Saint-Germain in which Tottenham led twice. That campaign contrasts with the EFL Cup, where Spurs exited in the fourth round against defending champions Newcastle United.
Frank describes the wider project as a long-term rebuild that still demands results each week. "Of course, sometimes when you're in the tough moments, you're thinking, 'Oh', but I was pretty sure what I walked into, that it will not be straightforward – I was very aware of that," Frank said. "I'm an optimistic person, so I always believe in the good and that we can create something very magical here. I'm 100% convinced that that will happen, and we will do that. "
Frank also stressed the need to measure progress accurately while accepting the pressure of constant competition. "I also think I'm quite good at analysing situations and finding out where are we, what do we need to improve, what direction do we need to go? And with that said, I can also see this is, as I said a few times now, it's not a quick fix, unfortunately. This is a longer journey. That doesn't mean that in the longer journey that we don't need to win football matches, we have to, and hopefully a lot of them, and perform well and all that. But to get to where we want to get, it just takes time to build that. "
Heading into the Crystal Palace match on Sunday, Spurs must respond to poor league form and a difficult home record. Frank summarised the bigger task facing Tottenham when managing both domestic and European targets. "And now we need to compete in the Champions League while we're competing in the Premier League, which is the most difficult thing. I think it's a massive task to get us to where we want to be on a consistent level. Because let's say, no matter if we finish in a good position, [we need] to do it every year. That's the challenge, playing in Europe and finishing in the top six every year. That's the big challenge. "
Recent results place extra weight on the Palace fixture, but the season remains open on several fronts. Spurs may be under pressure in the league, yet Champions League progress stays within reach. For Frank, that blend of strain and opportunity defines the current period, as Tottenham attempt to stabilise now while preparing for sustained top-six and European contention.
Building towards Palace @BetMGMUK pic.twitter.com/LITyn59B96Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 26, 2025
Tottenham’s season under Frank can be viewed through contrasting domestic and European results so far.
| Competition | Current Status | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 14th place | 22 points, one win in last eight games |
| Champions League | Group phase | 11th overall, one defeat, lost 5-3 to Paris Saint-Germain |
| EFL Cup | Eliminated | Fourth round loss to Newcastle United |
