Mathys Tel has barely put a foot wrong for Tottenham this season under Thomas Frank.
Tottenham suffered an embarrassing defeat to arch-rivals and relegation contenders West Ham in the Premier League this weekend. The Lilywhites were far from their best and were comprehensively outplayed by the Hammers. However, one player who provided a rare glimmer of hope in the final third was Mathys Tel. The talented attacker was constantly trying to make things happen before being substituted by Thomas Frank around the hour mark.
Frank’s handling of the Frenchman has been disappointing, especially considering he was the driving force behind Tel’s permanent signing in the summer. The 20-year-old has rarely been handed starts for the Lilywhites this season and has largely been limited to an ‘impact substitute’ role. A lack of regular game time is one of the main reasons why the former Bayern Munich attacker is now pushing for an early exit from the North London club.
To the surprise of many, Tel was also omitted from the Champions League squad for the first half of the campaign by Thomas Frank. In hindsight, it was a puzzling decision from the Danish tactician, as the young attacker was restricted to domestic competitions only. To his credit, the Frenchman kept his head down and continued to work hard, eventually earning a place in the European squad following Dominic Solanke’s injury issues.
Mathys Tel snubbed from Tottenham’s UCL squad list… again!
Mathys Tel has once again been left out of Tottenham’s Champions League squad for the upcoming clash against Borussia Dortmund this week. Thomas Frank has instead opted to include Dominic Solanke, as the Lilywhites aim to secure all three points at home. It is difficult to understand the decision to omit Tel, particularly given the current lack of options in the wide areas at N17.
Unsurprisingly, the 20-year-old has not taken the news well after being excluded from the squad for a second time through no fault of his own. According to Ed Aarons (via X),
“Understand Mathys Tel is very surprised by Tottenham’s decision to omit him from their Champions League squad for second time this season. The France Under-21 has started last four games for Thomas Frank’s side having informed Spurs he was open to leaving on loan in January.”
It is hard to justify Thomas Frank’s decision to leave Tel out of the Champions League squad, especially as the Frenchman has been one of the few positives for Spurs in recent weeks. He has impressed in his recent starts, looking to influence games from the left wing by carrying the ball forward and linking up effectively with his teammates. As such, the 20-year-old’s frustration at being overlooked is entirely understandable.
Supporters would not fault the talented attacker if he chooses to seek a move elsewhere in the coming weeks for the remainder of the campaign. Thomas Frank has failed to manage the Frenchman’s development effectively, leaving the 20-year-old with little choice but to take steps to revive his career and keep his World Cup ambitions alive. A loan move for the rest of the season now appears to be a realistic possibility for the former Bayern Munich player.
More Tottenham Hotspur News:
- Thomas Frank makes bold selection decision ahead of Tottenham’s clash against Dortmund
- Thomas Frank clarifies Mathys Tel call against West Ham as tactical decision comes into focus
- Thomas Frank could perform U-turn on Mathys Tel stance after latest developments
It is also worth noting that Tel could benefit from a change in management at N17. He will be hoping to remain patient and outlast Thomas Frank at the club. The Danish tactician is reportedly on the brink of losing his job at Spurs, and another poor result could see him shown the exit at Hotspur Way. For now, Mathys Tel will hope to survive the managerial uncertainty and get the chance to establish himself in the coming weeks.
