Thomas Frank was defiant ahead of Tottenham’s Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund and said “if your back is against the wall, you fight” amid speculation he may lose his job.
A 2-1 loss at home to West Ham pushed Frank towards the exit door, with Spurs supporters chanting “you’re getting sacked in the morning” following an eighth defeat in 14 matches.
Frank claimed to have “the trust of everyone” in Saturday’s post-match news conference, but talks have taken place at 14th-placed Tottenham over whether Frank should be given Tuesday’s Champions League visit of Dortmund, sources told Press Association.
The Danish coach took training on Sunday at the club’s Hotspur Way facility with no final decision over his future reached amid discussions between chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and other members of the executive board.
In a news conference on Monday, Frank, who only joined Tottenham from Brentford in June, came out fighting and insisted he will win back the support of the fans.
He said: “If your back is against the wall, you fight. I am energetic and I fight.
“It is not about me, we need to win football matches and we need to do that together, we are ready and focused on the game together and the players look good.
– How Thomas Frank’s Tottenham reign has unravelled
– Why clamour for Tottenham ‘DNA’ makes no sense
– Premier League table
“I am not in doubt of that, [winning back the supporters] in this game, you always need resilience.
“The three biggest things in showing resilience is having good values and I believe I am a guy that has good values.
“Second is you know reality and the reality is that one in five people don’t like you no matter what you do and one in five love you no matter what you do — both sides are probably biased, no matter what you do.
“And then there is the three and five, if you behave well, are respectful and show integrity then you are sweet.
“The reality is not everyone will like you.”
While Frank may have failed to develop a relationship with Tottenham supporters in his short tenure in north London, he is adamant he has always had a good relationship with the board.
He has frequently said there is “trust” between the board and him and that was again his line in Monday’s news conference.
“I’ve just been, how can you say, feeling the trust along the way,” Frank said.
“I’ve said that every press meeting, I had lunch with Nick, Vinai and Johan today and it was all good.
“All part of the media circus and I can only think about winning against Dortmund.”
Despite their Premier League form, Tottenham sit just a point outside the top eight spots in the Champions League table, with a shot at avoiding the playoff a realistic possibility, should they get something out of the match against Dortmund.
Ben Davies set for surgery on broken ankle
Tottenham have revealed that defender Ben Davies faces ankle surgery after being injured in the early stages of the West Ham defeat.
“We can confirm that Ben Davies will undergo surgery today for a fracture of his left ankle,” Spurs posted on X.
“Following the surgery, Ben will commence his rehabilitation with our medical staff. We’re all behind you, Ben.”
Davies’ injury is a huge blow for Wales ahead of their World Cup play-off semi-final against Bosnia and Herzegovina in March.
The 32-year-old has captained his country in the long-term absence of Aaron Ramsey and won his 100th cap against Belgium in October.
