Tottenham: Thomas Frank sends message to Randal Kolo Muani amid transfer rumours | OneFootball

Striker linked with return to Juventus but Spurs boss has other ideas

But he was thrust straight into the starting line-up in west Germany and took his opportunity by opening the scoring two minutes after half-time.

On target: Randal Kolo Muani

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Kolo Muani’s goal was his first since he netted a brace against parent club Paris Saint-Germain in November, and Frank joked that the 27-year-old had to start scoring against clubs other than his former clubs, having made his name at the Bundesliga club.

“First of all, I was very happy that he scored the goal. I think, actually, he looked like a threat. He almost got an assist with the first one that was disallowed. He was very involved in that. Great action. I think he has had great actions throughout the game,” Frank said in his post-match press conference.

“So I'm very happy that he got the goal and I said to him, please start scoring against others than your former clubs, that would be nice.

“But we know when you come to a new club, a new country, it's never straightforward and never in the Premier League. I hope this will give him some confidence.”

Kolo Muani started in place of Solanke, who is still working his way back to full fitness after a recurring ankle injury, but the Englishman stepped off the bench to seal all three points, and Frank said it was a tough decision to leave Solanke out of his starting lineup.

"Yeah, I'm so happy not only to have him in the Champions League squad, but also it was a tough decision. It was a big game tonight, and I wanted to start Dom, but we need to take clever decisions like we've done throughout, because we have been pushing him to the limit.

“So we know every sign, every experience says that it was the right thing not to start him. So I'm happy that it turned out to be a very good decision."