Thomas Frank delivers verdict on Tottenham atmosphere ahead of Sunderland clash amid rising dissent from fans | OneFootball

Spurs have struggled for consistency at home so far this season and welcome Sunderland to north London on Sunday

Thomas Frank is not concerned about the atmosphere around Tottenham heading into Sunday’s crunch match at home to Sunderland.

Frank was booed by sections of the travelling Spurs support upon his return to Brentford on New Year’s Day, as his side mustered just two shots on target in a dreary, yet emotional reunion.

The rising dissent from the stands, with supporters also heard chanting ‘boring, boring Tottenham’, is not something Frank is worrying himself with, though.

His focus is on delivering a performance against Sunderland worthy of the admission fee alone, with taunts of ‘we want our money back’, another popular jibe from the Spurs supporters on a bitterly cold evening in west London.

“There are a lot of other things to worry about in life that are much more important,” Frank said in his pre-match press conference on Friday.

“What I’m focusing on is to make sure that we perform in the best possible way. All my focus is on that.”

Frank’s honesty in highlighting the chasm between where the club wants to be and the reality of where it finds itself after years of instability has been admirable, but it has also wrangled with supporters desperate to see a more entertaining brand of football.

Rough reception: Thomas Frank

AFP via Getty Images

The Dane is not blind to supporters’ frustrations; he, too, wishes his side could play on the front foot with little repercussion, and he hopes to give those in attendance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday something to rally behind as they host high-flying Sunderland in search of a rare home win.

“When we play the game (against Sunderland), we need the fans behind us. They need to push and need to help us. It’s just facts, that’s the way it is.

“If they can see we run hard and do everything we can, then they should help us all the way, and that’s hopefully enough to win the game.”

Frank knows how quickly perceptions can change; a week is a long time in football, and it is why he is not getting caught up in the chorus of boos that threaten to undermine his tenure.

Win against Sunderland and Spurs will have taken seven points from a possible nine, which in a season where every team is struggling for consistency, cannot be overlooked.

“This is a beautiful example of how football works,” Frank continued.

“There was one snapshot of the game yesterday. Before that, at home, we played against Brentford, we played a very good game, the fans were fantastic.

This is a beautiful example of how football works

Thomas Frank

“We played against Slavia Prague, they helped us, were fantastic. We played against Liverpool, they almost gave us a draw, where it seemed like everything was a little bit against us.

“The last three home games, the fans have been very good. Then there was the chants last night and boom, now it’s the biggest problem in the world.

“I’m pretty sure that all the fantastic Tottenham fans we have out there, they want the best for the team, for the players, they want to do everything they can to push them.

“And why not? Hey, it’s life, and football is hope. There’s always hope. We’re going into that game with massive hope.”