Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank insisted alignment with the club’s hierarchy remains strong, despite a damaging league run, growing injury problems and recent controversies. A 3-2 defeat against Bournemouth
on Wednesday, settled by Antoine Semenyo’s 95th-minute goal, kept Spurs in 14th place and increased pressure before an FA Cup third-round meeting with Aston Villa at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Post-match tension added to concerns, with Micky van de Ven and Joao Palhinha involved in altercations on the pitch after full-time at the Vitality Stadium. Soon after, captain Cristian Romero voiced frustration on social media, appearing to accuse Spurs officials of spreading lies before later amending the message, while Frank attempted to redirect focus towards performances.
The Bournemouth loss continued a poor Premier League sequence for Tottenham, who have claimed only one victory from the last six league fixtures. Since the start of last season, only Wolves, with 36, have recorded more Premier League defeats than Spurs, whose 30 losses match West Ham and Southampton, yet Frank maintained that internal relationships remain united across senior figures.
"I think, especially in football, the most important thing is to keep the noise out. Then you can see there's this situation with the post from Cuti [Romero], Frank told reporters. There could be others where it's maybe not that positive or a lot of people speaking. When we want to attract players, we need to tell our, as close to possible, unbiased storyabout this fantastic, beautiful club and why you should come to the club. I'm pretty sure that clever players and agents can look through if there's a little bit of noise. I think it's very important to stress that even though there's noise, the club is very aligned. Johan [Lange], Vinai [Venkatesham], and I are very aligned. Ownership is very aligned. We know it's a tough spell that we need to get through. "
Frank stressed that younger dressing-room leaders, including Romero, can occasionally misjudge situations, particularly on social media, but argued such incidents should not distract from wider planning. The Tottenham head coach underlined shared decision-making with sporting director Johan Lange, chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and the owners, describing the current slump as a spell that requires calm handling.
Alongside poor league form, Tottenham are dealing with several key absences, which Frank believes have shaped recent results. Frank confirmed the club are working "very, very, very hard" to strengthen the squad, especially after multiple setbacks across the season, and signalled that recruitment discussions continue as Spurs look for solutions in the current window.
"Lucas Bergvall is being assessed [on Thursday]. We will know more later with him, Frank said. Same with Rodrigo Bentancur. Rodri has a hamstring injuryit looks like a bigger one, unfortunately. We don't know the time frame. That we will know later. Mohammed Kudus, unfortunately, is a bigger one to the tendon in the quad. That is one where we expect him back after the March international break. "
Frank described Dejan Kulusevski’s problem as complicated, indicating the medical staff are still managing that situation carefully. Rodrigo Bentancur’s hamstring injury has proved worse than first thought, creating uncertainty over a return date, while summer arrival Mohammed Kudus faces about three months out after suffering a quad tendon issue against Sunderland, shortly after Brennan Johnson’s sale to Crystal Palace.
| Tottenham player | Injury type | Expected status |
|---|---|---|
| Dejan Kulusevski | Complicated issue | Ongoing management, timeline unclear |
| Rodrigo Bentancur | Hamstring injury | Worse than first feared, timeframe unknown |
| Mohammed Kudus | Quad tendon injury | Expected back after March international break |
| Lucas Bergvall | Under assessment | Further updates pending |
These injuries arrive during a critical stretch of the campaign, limiting Frank’s options as fixture demands increase. Kulusevski, Bentancur and Kudus are influential in attacking phases and ball progression, while Bergvall’s situation is still being evaluated. The combined absences place extra responsibility on remaining squad members and on any potential incoming signings.
Tottenham FA Cup tie and Spurs response to poor run
Spurs will temporarily step away from Premier League pressure when Aston Villa visit in the FA Cup third round on Saturday. Tottenham face opponents performing strongly in the league, yet Frank views the cup match as a chance to reset momentum, especially in front of home supporters at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London.
Aston Villa is next in the FA Cup @Castrol pic.twitter.com/TLWI7CQ8pXTottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 8, 2026
Recent league difficulties mean Tottenham approach the Aston Villa tie with limited confidence, yet Frank emphasised that an FA Cup run still holds major value for the club. A positive performance could provide a base for improved league displays, as Spurs attempt to climb from 14th place and reduce scrutiny around both results and dressing-room mood.
"We would love to be higher up the table. We are working hard, Frank added. But the important thing is to look at the game on Saturday. It is a good opportunity as that is an important competition for the club. This is a tough spell that we will get through. "
Frank’s comments underline a belief that collective unity, targeted transfer work and careful handling of injured players can stabilise Tottenham’s season. With internal figures presenting a consistent message and an FA Cup meeting with Aston Villa approaching, the next phase offers Spurs a potential platform to move beyond recent setbacks.
