Analysis: Thomas Frank left hanging after Spurs’ disappointing Chelsea defeat | OneFootball

Spurs stumble in sterile London derby

Tottenham Hotspur hoped Thomas Frank would bring structure and bite to their game against Chelsea, a fixture that has inflicted chaos and heartbreak in recent years. That 4-1 collapse in 2023 and the wild 4-3 turnaround last season still echo around north London. This time there was no drama, yet the outcome felt even more bruising. A 1-0 defeat, and one that belonged to the more forgettable corners of Premier League history.

Frank was hired to prevent Spurs repeating the helter skelter approach many associated with Ange Postecoglou, yet this display bordered on lifeless. Spurs finished with more substitutions and more bookings than shots. Their xG of 0.05 was the club’s lowest recorded in a Premier League match since the metric arrived in 2012-13, compared to Chelsea’s 3.03. Only Guglielmo Vicario’s heroics and a glaring Jamie Gittens miss stopped this from turning ugly on the scoreboard.

“That hurts massively,” Frank admitted. “I have never been in charge of a team that has created that little in one game. I will look into what we can do to make it better. That is one thing but I think everything is linked.”

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Fans vent as creativity hits crisis point

Tottenham Hotspur supporters stayed loyal through some swashbuckling defeats under Postecoglou, but patience wore thin here. Boos rang out when Vicario played short to Djed Spence late on rather than launching the ball forward. The frustration continued at full-time.

Frank accepted Chelsea’s physical superiority, a damning admission against a direct rival. Spurs felt reliant on a set piece miracle, yet Robert Sanchez claimed every delivery with ease. Pedro Porro repeatedly tried lofting passes over Marc Cucurella for Mohammed Kudus, and Xavi Simons struggled after replacing Lucas Bergvall early due to concussion protocol.

Home form now tells its own bleak tale. Tottenham Hotspur have lost three at home under Frank and won only once. Four straight league games at their own ground have failed to hit an xG over 1.0. A stadium built to roar feels restless and unconvinced.

Dressing room tensions surface

Tensions flared too. Micky van de Ven and Spence marched straight down the tunnel at full-time despite Frank and set piece coach Andreas Georgson attempting to intervene. Only days ago Frank had praised Van de Ven for leadership, describing his brace against Everton as a turning point. “One of the small issues that we have” was his explanation. Even so, it hinted at internal unease.

Context, though, complicates the fury. Tottenham Hotspur sit above Chelsea on goal difference and remain in top four contention. After finishing 17th last season, progress appears obvious on paper.

Parallels raise uncomfortable questions

Yet comparisons with the Nuno Espirito Santo era hover over this project. Nuno arrived after a turbulent search, won early matches, then fell flat amid criticism of an uninspiring style. Supporters do not demand recklessness, but they do demand identity and ambition. Frank tightened the defence, but inspiration has not followed.

There were flickers of fire, from Frank kicking a water bottle to Kudus, Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur flying into challenges. Bergvall protested his concussion withdrawal, though medical staff rightly stood firm. Desire is not absent, but rhythm and imagination remain elusive.

More heavyweight fixtures come fast, including European away days at Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain. A promising start to the season for Tottenham Hotspur has shifted into a stern proving ground. Frank needs invention quickly, because statistics, sentiment and comparison to past managers have begun circling like floodlights on a winter night in north London.