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Thomas Frank had lots to say on various Tottenham players at his press conference on Friday ahead of the trip to Leeds United in the Premier League.
Spurs grabbed a draw at Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League on Tuesday night and now face another noisy away trip at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon against a Leeds side that have impressed on their return to the Premier League with only two defeats in their first six matches and no defeats in the league for more than a year at home.
Frank gave an update on Cristian Romero's injury which kept him out of the midweek European match while Dominic Solanke has now had his minor surgery on his ankle. There was also the boost for the Tottenham boss with Rodrigo Bentancur signing a new long-term deal with the club while Frank also named his leadership team for the coming season.
Our Spurs correspondent Alasdair Gold was among those putting the questions to Frank. Here's the full transcript from the press conference at Hotspur Way.
What's the latest team news and how is Cristian Romero?
Yes, Romero is fit and available, and he will start tomorrow. Promising news. I think there was a contact to the foot, and the medical did a good job to get him turned around, so trained and ready for tomorrow. Dom minor procedure went well, that's good, as I said in Bodo, the timeframe, we will know more when we come back from international. So that would be more on the timeframe, to be more specific there, if possible, of course. And Kolo Muani has been on the pitch the last two days. So that's very positive.
And a new contract for Rodrigo Bentancur?
It's fantastic news that the club have managed to first extend Romero's contract, but now also Rodri Bentancur's contract. I think that's a big sign that both of them believe in the project and the future here and hopefully the fantastic journey we are going to be on together. I think that's a big, big signal. It would be the easiest thing in the world for Rodri to run out his contract and do something different. So I think that's a fantastic signal to the fans, to everyone. And of course, I'm extremely happy that we managed to sign him. I think he's a top player, and he's been a top player for Tottenham. I also think we can get even more out of him, and there's an even higher level in him.
Rodrigo Bentancur and Pedro Porro were not included in the leadership group. Are there individual reasons for why you selected each player in it?
I think it's down to a few bits. First and foremost, there is quite a few with a leadership potential in them. The more we can have that want to speak up and take responsibility for the bigger picture, the better. That's what creates the best teams. And I agree with Rodri Bentancur and Pedro [Porro] especially, the two of them. They're two I want them to take a lot of responsibility and I think they do very well. But I also think this group also covers the squad to make sure we get around to everyone. Make sure all the groups, even though we're one big group, are touched and in sync. So lots of factors into that.
When do you get to speak to the hierarchy looking ahead to January?
To be fair it goes quick. Everyone is well organised. They will probably a week after the window shuts or two weeks maximum, they will start preparing the next following windows. So of course Vinai and Johan are on top of that, preparing that. We of course will have a meeting relatively soon where we will start to talk about it and progress the plans from there.
How wary of you ensuring comebacks do not become the pattern?
Yeah of course. We start tomorrow trying to get up 1-0 first. I think it's football and in football there's a relatively big risk that the opponents will score and you need to manage to overcome that. If you see the amount of games different teams are playing, I don't know what the percentage is of how many times you get 1-0 down compared to what times you get 1-0 up, but you definitely need to have the ability to come back from setbacks. I think the mentality and the foundation we are building, it's very important that you are able to do that.
I'm very pleased that I was able to do it three times in a row, because it's a big thing. Of course, it would be nice just to run over teams and win 3-0 easy, but very few teams do that. This is the Premier League, the most competitive league in the world. It's impossible. Everyone is beating each other, left, right and centre more or less, except maybe two or three teams. And then we're playing Champions League, which is the best club competition in the world.
So we need to have that ability, which I'm happy with, and keep building on it. Of course, it's not that we're not working on trying to get in front, which we also have done.
In terms of the stats, they are showing that the right side of your attack, where of course we see Porro and Kudus operating, they're creating 45.8% of your chances in the Premier League this season, compared to 25% on the left and 29.2% through the middle. So how much are you working at the moment to try and improve the amount of chances you're creating from the left?
I'm not sure, just thinking about it, if I want it balanced. I'm just thinking about that. Because if they're creating chances, then the other side are finishing it. So that's not too bad, if you just look at the stats. But I also think it's fair to say that Mo and Pedro, let's say that that relationship is really well, and it seems like there's a little bit of consistency, they found each other, so that's good.
And then there's probably been a little bit more with two different left-backs, both Djed and Destiny, and different wingers. So how can we get a little bit more of that consistency in there? And I think that links a little bit to the little bit more in sync and flow we try to work on the final third.
But I'm relatively positive around that. I think Wilson is showing promising signs. I think Xavi is showing promising signs. I think Richy has scored three goals and been fit the whole period. So I think it's getting there. Lucas is showing promising signs.
So not too much of a concern?
No, not for now.
Your opponents tomorrow, Leeds, they haven't lost at home in the league for more than a year. But of course Spurs have the best away record for every season, so where do you think this game could be won and lost?
I think first and foremost, I think Leeds, they have done very well since they got promoted. And I think Daniel Farke and his staff have done well. Big respect for Daniel. I've known him for many years. He's a good colleague and friend in the game. We battled against each other quite a few times in the Championship and in the Premier League.
So I'm so happy that he's doing well and that they got a good start and show how great their coach is and the coaching staff. So we're going to Elland Road, which I always admire as one of the best stadiums to go to because the atmosphere is fantastic there. So it's a game we're looking forward to play.
But also that I'm very aware that they haven't lost once. You said in the last year, I think that was the stat, yeah?
They haven't lost at home in the league for more than a year. Their last loss was 1-0 at home to Burnley on the 14th of September.
More than a year, sorry. I thought it was one. More than a year. Extremely. So I actually got that stat, but I got it wrong from my analysis department. So clearly, and we know that because of their fans and their home ground, they've been very good.
I think the way they started the Premier League, it gives them a lot of confidence. They defend extremely well. They give very little away in open play.
So we need to really be aware of that and really know that this is a game that can be 90 minutes, back and forth, small setbacks you need to overcome. But we're ready for it. We look forward to it and we'll do what we can to go for three points.
With Randal Kolo Muani, would he be available to be in the squad tomorrow? And also, how far is Kota Takai from being able to be involved?
Kolo Muani will not be available. He's not in the squad tomorrow. Kota is better and better. He's trained fully with the team for a week, ten days, a little bit more than that. So that's promising, definitely. So I'm happy with that.
On Rodrigo Bentancur, you said he can still improve, what areas do you see that he can push on to another level?
I think one thing I have seen, I am very happy with him as a player and as a character. I think when he plays at his best level, he is a top level as a midfielder here in the Premier League and I probably need to see a little bit more consistency there. I also want him to and I told him myself, I want him to a little bit more dictate the game and get on the ball when it’s tough because he’s so good on the ball. He is so composed and so good to get the ball in tight areas and get out of situations. That I would like to see a little bit more, so I think that is the first bit and he can easily add goals to the game, but the more we can control the middle of the pitch with him, the better.
Archie Gray had another positive cameo against Bodo, how much has he developed since he left Leeds as a young man and obviously he's still a young man?
He is still a very young man. Of course I didn’t follow him with laser-focus because he was in another club last year, but he played a lot of Premier League mins which is always good for development no matter what. Did he play left-back? He definitely played right-back, centre-back and as a midfielder but so many minutes, so many experiences and some tough moments as well. It is the tough moments that develop all of us – we know that. That I liked. I liked what I see from him in pre-season and I really, really like him as a player and sometimes you just need to keep doing what you are doing. He has trained well, especially the last month and I seeing good bits and signs in training. He came on against Bodo and made a difference. I think he did good against Doncaster and learned a lot. They played a way where they took the eights and man-marked, so it was a bit more difficult to shine if that makes sense, but I like everything about him.
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