Thomas Frank on Chelsea: "It's going to be special - I can't wait" | OneFootball

Thomas Frank has spoken about stepping into the Spurs-Chelsea rivalry for the first time on Saturday, declaring: "It's got everything to be a top game."

Our Head Coach added that he couldn't wait for his first taste of this fierce London derby as we face the Blues for the first time this season under the lights for the 5.30pm kick-off at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference after training on Friday, here's what Thomas had to say specifically about facing Chelsea for the first time as Spurs boss...

Tottenham against Chelsea, the rivalry - is this kind of game one of the many reasons why you joined this club?

Thomas: “Yeah, I think you put it quite right. A game against Chelsea, especially a home game against Chelsea, under the floodlights, is going to be unique and special. I can't wait for it. The players are really looking forward to it. It's a fantastic occasion. We need the fans behind us. I know they do everything they can to try to create even more noise, make it this very difficult place to play and as I said before, it's between us and the fans - the best clubs, the best teams, they're united, they're together in good times and bad times. We need to perform. We need to create energy. Can we get energy off the fans? Then it's like some positive reinforcement and that’s what we need to create tomorrow. We're really looking forward to it.”

What do you make of Enzo Maresca's time at Chelsea so far?

Thomas: “Enzo's done an amazing job at Chelsea. First season, qualifying for the Champions League and won the Conference League, so competing in definitely more than one front. Won the Club World Cup and had a decent start to the season - very impressive. It was very clear what him and his staff want to achieve, how they want to play. So, yeah, it's going to be a nice, good challenge, another nice, good challenge in the Premier League against a very good manager and a very good team.”

How excited are you to be part of this story, this rivalry and writing your own story for this game tomorrow?

Thomas: “Very excited, really looking forward to it, a London derby between two big rivals. There's so much on it against a very good Chelsea team. It will be a very, very competitive, even game, under the floodlights, it's got everything to be a top game where you will be on the edge of your seat, hopefully, if you're a fan or a part of it. Hopefully, that's the case. We need to come flying out and get the fans with us. I'm very, very positive about us coming out and performing very well tomorrow.”

How much do you need to start making your home a fortress?

Thomas: “It’s clear. I think if you want to achieve something big, you need to have a good home form and a good away form. Our away form is very good. Our home form, I'm quite convinced that we've seen at the end of the season that we would have had a good home form. Right now, three games home in the Premier League is a very small sample, but it's up to us to change it around, which I'm convinced we'll have a very good chance to do tomorrow.”