Tottenham players ignore manager after Chelsea defeat
Footage has captured the moment two Tottenham defenders completely ignored their manager following Saturday’s crushing defeat to Chelsea at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, reports BritPanorama.
Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence marched directly past Thomas Frank after the final whistle, refusing to acknowledge their boss despite his attempts at communication. The Dutch defender failed to make eye contact while his teammate appeared to gesture dismissively before both disappeared down the tunnel.
Frank was left standing alone on the pitch, staring after his players for several seconds as the incident unfolded immediately after Spurs’ 1-0 home loss to their London rivals. When questioned about the awkward moment, Frank attempted to minimize its significance during his post-match press conference.
“I understand why you ask the question but that’s one of the small issues,” the former Brentford boss stated. He defended both players, insisting: “Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence have performed well this season, and it’s just a small thing.” The manager acknowledged widespread frustration amongst his squad, noting that “all the players are, of course, frustrated. They would like to do well, they would like to win, they would like to perform well, so I understand that.”
The statistics from Saturday’s encounter painted an even bleaker picture than the post-match tensions. Spurs registered their lowest expected goals figure in Premier League history, managing a mere 0.05 xG since records began in 2012. The home side mustered just three attempts throughout the ninety minutes, with only one troubling Chelsea’s goalkeeper.
Frank confessed the numbers had wounded him deeply, stating, “I would say that of course hurt massively. I’ve never been in charge of a team that created that little in one game. Never.” Joao Pedro’s first-half strike proved sufficient for the visitors, who thoroughly dominated proceedings at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The Danish tactician expressed complete understanding of the hostile reception from supporters who booed their team off the pitch, acknowledging, “Yes, 100 per cent. We all sense the frustration and the emotions. That’s part of football. It’s extremely painful.” He admitted Chelsea’s superiority, stating, “In general, I think Chelsea were good and we were definitely second best. We performed badly. I think we lacked energy and intensity, and that freshness we didn’t have.” Frank also recognised his side’s inability to cope with the visitors’ tactical approach, remarking, “Then I think the high pressure they came with, I don’t think we solved it well enough even though we worked on it.”
The incident has drawn attention to the growing tensions within the Tottenham squad, even as they face mounting pressure in the league. The response from both the players and the manager will be critical as they look to navigate their way back to form.
