Tottenham lose to Chelsea: Fans booing and players snubbing manager Thomas Frank
Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League last season and started Frank’s career with three wins and three clean sheets in four matches.
The Dane has repeatedly said he wants to turn Tottenham Hotspur Stadium into a “fortress” but defeat to Chelsea means Spurs have won just one of five home games under his management.
They have not won back-to-back league games since starting the season with wins against Burnley and Manchester City and have won just one of their last five games in all competitions since the international break in October.
The poor home form is a continuation of the trend that started last season under Ange Postecoglou. Spurs have won just three of their last 19 home games in the Premier League (four draws and 12 defeats).
In fact, in England’s top four leagues, only Southampton have won fewer home games than Spurs this term.
“There will be more questions about Thomas Frank after the game,” former Premier League goalkeeper Rob Green said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“I don’t think you’ll learn anything after that because they were so terrible on the ball. They never gave themselves a chance. They never got any better. Constant pressure at home is not good enough.”
Former Spurs midfielder Jamie Redknapp told Sky Sports that the defeat was “one of the worst performances I have ever seen from Tottenham”.
“This was as easy as it gets,” he added. “If this had been a boxing match I would have stopped it. They never touched Chelsea. They made it too easy.”
Fans echoed his sentiments as they made their feelings clear by making booing noises at the full-time whistle.
Frank said he understood fans’ frustration but asked for patience as his team continues to improve.
“Them [the fans] They did their best to support us in a match where we did not perform well. “Chelsea were better than us that day,” he said.
“There is no doubt that we have a new front four, and I continue to say that. We have to build together, with short comebacks in games. We will do that. I have no doubt that it will happen.”
“I think every team I’ve coached has scored a lot of goals. The same thing will happen here in the future.”
Offense isn’t Frank’s only problem; Only Wolves (four) have made more opposition errors on goal than Tottenham, who have made three errors in the Premier League this season, along with Manchester United, Nottingham Forest and Fulham.
Tottenham have two opportunities to make amends at home next week; Matches against Copenhagen in the Champions League and Manchester United in the Premier League.
After a disastrous league campaign last season, Frank has certainly improved. But more is needed to improve both results and the climate in North London.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been involved in a game where we created so little,” Frank told BBC Sport after finishing Saturday’s match with an xG rating of 0.05.
“There will always be positive things, but I’m having a hard time seeing them right now.”
