Thomas Frank confident midfield pairing can solve big Tottenham issue as Pape Matar Sarr change is explained

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Evening Standard

·24 octobre 2025

Thomas Frank confident midfield pairing can solve big Tottenham issue as Pape Matar Sarr change is explained

Spurs’ midfield pairing has under scrutiny recently

Thomas Frank has full faith in the Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur midfield pairing for Tottenham

Vidéos OneFootball

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Thomas Frank insists Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur are “more than capable” of helping Tottenham create chances when starting together.

The pair have lined up in midfield alongside each other seven times this season and Spurs have won only two of those matches.

It is a partnership that has come under scrutiny in recent matches, with Spurs struggling to progress the ball through the middle of the pitch and create chances.

There have been calls for Frank to rethink the midfield set-up, potentially with one of Archie Gray or Pape Matar Sarr coming into the side, but the Spurs boss pointed to the added protection he believes his preferred duo provide.

“I think it's always team effort, how we construct a team,” Frank said. “In the end, it's my final decision, of course.

“It's a collective effort in terms of how we want to build up or how we want to create chances. I think both of them are more than capable to help the team.

“One thing is that part of the game. The other part is, of course, how can we make sure we are strong and solid enough if we are in a spell where we may be not as free-flowing as we want it to be because of new players getting gelled together, getting it more smooth, more free.

“How can we make sure that if that's not working we’re super solid and still building? That’s part of the puzzle.”

There have been calls for Pape Matar Sarr to start in midfield

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Sarr started the first six matches of the season and was in impressive form, scoring against West Ham and providing an assist on the opening day against Burnley.

The 23-year-old has not started a match in almost a month in any competition, but Frank insisted Sarr that has been tactical and not due to the midfielder carrying an injury.

“Yeah there's nothing wrong with him,” Frank said.

“He started the first six games and I think he was a very, very good player for us. I think there was maybe a minor situation with the coaching, we rested him, I can't remember.

“But no, no, it's just competition, other players have done well. Decisions from me. But in general, I'm happy with Pape.

“I've said before he was one of the players that impressed me the most in the beginning of the season and he's a very good player.”