Thomas Frank: Tottenham boss expected to star against Borussia Dortmund as Spurs look at alternative options | Football news

Thomas Frank is expected to remain in charge of Tottenham for the Champions League clash against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night.

Frank will hold his pre-match press conference on Monday as normal ahead of their penultimate league match.

Ski Sports News reported on Sunday that Frank was under increasing pressure to keep his job and the Spurs hierarchy were believed to be considering alternative options following board-level talks following defeat at home to West Ham on Saturday.

A final decision has not yet been made and the long-term plan has always been for Frank to lead the team through a difficult, transitional period for the club.

Saturday’s defeat reached new levels of toxicity at Tottenham Hotspur’s stadium, with reports of fan clashes outside the pitch, while footage emerged on social media of a fan approaching co-owner Vivienne Lewis in the hospitality section and airing his feelings about Franco’s future.

Unlike the vast majority of managers who have lost their jobs this season, Frank has tried to remain positive, appreciating that this is a difficult time for the club.

He described his work as an attempt to reverse the “super-tanker” and that he was headed in the right direction. But that did not show in Saturday’s result at relegation-threatened rivals West Ham, which ended a 10-game winless run in the league.

Not all the blame can be placed on Frank. The club is in transition after the post-Daniel Levy era with new captains steering the ship and new staff still finding their feet in a number of areas.

Either way, this feels like an important moment for Tottenham and they will be carefully considering their next steps ahead of their Champions League home game against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday.

Booed and dismissed by chants from his own fans – but Frank is defiant

Frank remained defiant under pressure despite being loudly booed by his own fans, who chanted ‘you’ll be sacked in the morning’ after the 2-1 home defeat by West Ham.

Callum Wilson’s late winner sparked toxic scenes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as the south stand called for the Dane to leave after a run of eight defeats in 14 matches.

On Sunday morning, Spurs chief executive Vinay Venkatesham arrived at the training ground along with Franco and the players.

In his post-match press conference, Frank said of the boos and chants: “Of course, I’ve probably had better times. I understand – I’m in charge, so the blame will be on me. That’s fair, there’s no problem in that sense.

“As long as they support the players, they do everything they can to support them and take them forward, and we will go forward.”

Frank was surprisingly upbeat in his post-match press conference, likening his job to turning around a “super tanker” with Spurs sitting 14th in the table, 10 points above the relegation zone.

Ahead of the match, Venkatesham published an open letter in the match program that addressed several issues, including fan relations and player exchanges.

“I saw the letter,” Frank said, “and I took six to eight positive things out of it, not negative things.

“What I take from that letter is that the club, the executive team with Vinay at the top, who are aligned and know that this is a big transition phase and it’s a super tanker, we’re turning in the right direction.”

“And there are a lot of good signs behind the scenes, also in some of the performances.”

“But of course when you lose at the last minute against one of the rivals, it is very emotional in football and there will be noise.

“And that noise we have to keep there and keep (our) head down and keep walking, keep doing the right thing.”

Frank also faced questions about the team’s data leak on Friday, but insisted he was not concerned.

The Dane also believes his side are “close to something very good” despite starting 2026 without a win.

Asked why he deserved more time, Frank replied: “If you’re not winning enough, we know you don’t have enough support from the fans.

“But when we’re winning, it’s going to change when we start winning again, which we’re going to do. There’s no doubt about that. I also think you can look at the performances a little bit.

“Let’s say Bournemouth and Villa and this game here, if the players stop running or stop doing anything or don’t work hard and we weren’t the team that came closest to winning, then you can say, OK. But I think the team is working very hard.

“I still think, and I know it sounds a little crazy, that we’re closer to something very good than further away.”

He added: “I can promise that I sit here and give it my all every day.

“I feel everyone’s confidence and there is only one way, and that is to continue.”

How Ski Sports reported on Tottenham fans’ response to Franco

Sky Sports’ Oliver Yu at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium:

After West Ham scored late on: “Home fans chant ‘fired in the morning’ to Thomas Frank, those who stayed in their seats. There is a mass exodus at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as West Ham fans celebrate.”

Full time: “The boos die down before they start again. The fans lining up by the press box also show their feelings.

“Frank then walks to the tunnel, applauding as he goes. He’s booed again and there’s another chorus of ‘fired in the morning’. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it before.”

Tottenham’s games in January and February

Tuesday: Borussia Dortmund (h), Champions League – kick-off at 8 p.m

Saturday: Burnley (a), Premier League – kick-off at 3 p.m

January 28: Eintracht Frankfurt (a), Champions League – kick-off at 8 p.m

February 1: Man City (h), Premier League – kick-off 16.30, live Ski Sports

February 7: Manchester United (a), Premier League – kick-off at 12:30 p.m

February 10: Newcastle (h), Premier League – kick-off at 19.30

February 22: Arsenal (h), Premier League – kick-off 16.30, live Ski Sports