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The Tottenham Hotspur head coach has been speaking about one of his defenders and a departing coach ahead of the club's festive break
Thomas Frank has called Micky van de Ven a 'true defender' as he hit back at Liverpool boss Arne Slot's condemnation of the Dutchman's challenge which injured Alexander Isak and the Dane has backed former academy product Matt Wells to shine in his first managerial role.
The 24-year-old Tottenham centre-back attempted to block Isak's shot for Liverpool's first goal in their 2-1 victory on Saturday but not only did the ball still fly into the net, the challenge caught the Swede's left foot, causing an ankle injury and a fibula fracture. Following surgery, the £125million striker is facing months out.
“It was a reckless challenge,” Slot vented at his press conference on Tuesday. "If you make a tackle like that 10 times, 10 times there is a serious chance the player gets a serious injury."
Tottenham boss Frank hit back with a staunch defence of Van de Ven's character and the incident itself.
"I'm obviously disagreeing in many ways. I think we are talking about a defender in Micky van de Ven who will do everything he can to avoid the goal," said the Dane. "It's a transition. So he's sprinting back in. There's a ball slid down the side and he does everything he can to see if he can block that shot.
"So he's sliding. Unfortunately, Isak's planted his foot straight there and that makes it look worse than it is. I think that would be a natural reaction for any defender."
He added: "I'll put it this way. If my defenders don't do that, then I don't think they are true defenders. As for a reckless challenge. normally you haven't seen any from Micky. He's a very fair and competitive player. The two players have sorted it out. So that's a good sign."
Frank and Tottenham have faced one departure this week in his assistant coach Matt Wells and potentially another in joint sporting director Fabio Paratici.
The latter only returned to the north London club on a full-time basis in October to work alongside Johan Lange in a dual role but is now being courted by Fiorentina for a Head of Football position at the struggling Serie A club.
Tottenham are yet to receive an official approach from the Italian side and Frank dismissed the speculation as "probably something for someone higher up in the club" to speak about.
Wells, who came through the academy at Spurs as a player and then coached within it, has departed for his first managerial role at MLS side Colorado Rapids and Frank has high hopes for the 37-year-old grandson of Tottenham double-winning legend Cliff Jones.
"I'm very happy for Matt. It's a great opportunity for him. He's a very talented coach and he's got potential to become a good head coach," said the Spurs boss. "It's different when you stand out there on your own, but I think he's got all the abilities to be able to do well. I wish him all the best and I really want him to do well.
"We will definitely look into replacing him. When and how that will look is not clear yet. When someone leaves others need to step up and take more responsibility. Back in the day it was only one assistant you had so I’m pretty sure we will survive."
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