Thomas Frank hoping his injured players return to action during the second half of the campaign
Tottenham have made a strong start to the new season under Thomas Frank, with the Danish tactician transforming the team’s outlook in a remarkably short time. Credit where it’s due — the players have adapted well to his system and look increasingly comfortable operating under his guidance at N17.
The wins against Leeds United and Manchester City have been the standout moments of the campaign so far. Despite ongoing injury problems at Hotspur Way, Frank’s men currently sit third in the Premier League, just two points behind league leaders Arsenal — an impressive feat given the circumstances.
Spurs’ attacking line has been heavily depleted due to the injury crisis. Key players such as James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Randal Kolo Muani, and Dominic Solanke are yet to feature for the Lilywhites this season. That makes Frank’s achievement even more remarkable — losing only once in his first ten matches as Tottenham manager despite being without several of his top attacking options. The squad clearly lacks experience and depth in the final third, and the inability to field most of his first-choice forwards could eventually prove costly if the situation doesn’t improve soon.
Thomas Frank is steering his way through the injury crisis at Tottenham
To make matters worse, Tottenham’s fixture list offers little respite. With seven matches to be played in just 22 days, Frank faces a huge challenge in managing his squad amid the growing injury list. He will need to rotate intelligently to keep his players fresh and competitive across all four competitions.
When asked about coping with the injury crisis at the North London club, the ex-Brentford boss said in his pre-match presser (via Football.London),
“I think we all have an idea in our head what could be the strongest team with all the players available. But probably the reality is that you need to create the strongest possible team of the players you have available now. That is my task, that is my job, and get the best out of that.”
Frank added,
“So, it’s nice to dream a little bit, but like with all dreams, it’s not reality. Reality is here now, what kind of players we have available, and then I need to perform for them. That said, of course, I would like some of them to be fit and available.”
Thomas Frank is under no illusions about his current situation. He knows exactly what his strongest lineup would be if everyone were fit, but football rarely offers that luxury. The Danish tactician’s immediate challenge is to continue getting the best out of the players he has at his disposal and maintain Tottenham’s momentum in the Premier League.
One can only imagine how much stronger Spurs would be with a fully fit squad. The creative spark of Maddison and Kulusevski, combined with the attacking flair of Solanke, would undoubtedly make Frank’s job far easier. The Dane will be hoping that in the coming months, he can finally call upon his full roster and unleash Tottenham’s true potential once his key stars return to fitness.
