Every Word from Thomas Frank's Press Conference Ahead of Tottenham vs Burnley

Thomas Frank addressed the media at Hotspur Way on Friday morning in his first Premier League press conference as Tottenham Hotspur head coach, ahead of Saturday's opening match against Burnley.

The Dane covered a wide range of topics, including team news, transfers, the racist abuse directed at Mathys Tel following the UEFA Super Cup penalty shoot-out loss to PSG, Yves Bissouma's recent disciplinary issue, Manor Solomon's recovery, young players on loan, and his expectations for the clash with the Clarets.

“There's no real Tottenham supporter that would ever do that.”

Thomas Frank with a message for Mathys Tel 🤍 pic.twitter.com/DQnXswYYUA

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 15, 2025

On the latest team news and injuries

Question: What's the latest team news?
Thomas Frank: Every player from the last game is available for the team tomorrow. Destiny Udogie is progressing, but it’s too early for him to be involved in the squad.

On Mathys Tel and the abuse he suffered after the PSG match

Question: How is Mathys Tel after the abuse he suffered on Wednesday?
Thomas Frank: It’s, of course, terrible what happened to Matty, and we’re doing everything we can to support him in this situation. He’s a strong person, and with hopefully support from his family, friends and us he will get through it. But also there’s no real Tottenham supporter that ever will do that. The real Tottenham supporters that we’ll see tomorrow at the stadium, they'll back him, I expect them to. Listen, in tough times we step up together, and I expect the fans to give him a really, really, really big cheer tomorrow.

On whether Spurs need to add more players in the transfer window

Question: Do Spurs need to add a few players?
Thomas Frank: First and foremost, in many ways, I’m very happy with the squad. I think there’s a lot of good players. I think we saw a team that was very, very, very competitive, and on any other day we would have beaten the best team in Europe. Of course, we want as strong and competitive squad as possible. I know that Daniel (Levy), Johan (Lange) and Vinai (Venkatesham) are working night and day, and they have, by the way, been working night and day the last, whatever, six, seven, eight weeks. They definitely would like to do deals early. Sometimes, I think we need to understand it’s not that easy, but they’re working.

On looking for a player in the number 10 role

Question: What kind of player you are looking for to fill the number 10 role?
Thomas Frank: We are looking, of course, in the market, not only for the 10 positions but just to see if we can strengthen the squad and the players we're looking at are the only players we think can improve the squad, and I think that's the right thing we want to do. If we can pick the right player and if it fits, then we'll do something.

On the latest with Yves Bissouma

Question: What's the latest on Bissouma?
Thomas Frank: There was a situation. I addressed this. There was a consequence. Bissouma will be in the squad tomorrow. Move forward and we have a big game tomorrow.

On chatting with Bissouma and his role as a senior player

Question: With Bissouma when you got back, did you have a long chat with him, because there's been incidents over previous summers as well, and he turns 29 this month so is one of those players that the younger players should be looking to?
Thomas Frank: Of course we've dealt with the situation. I think these situations you deal with internally, of course, so yeah, it's dealt with. I'm looking forward. There's a big game tomorrow, and that's where the main focus should be.

On establishing standards with Bissouma's punishment

Question: With Bissouma, is it important to establish the standards you want here early on?
Thomas Frank: Yeah, you can say that, but I would have done exactly the same in Brentford or other places where I’ve worked. I just have a certain standards and demands. I think the players need that, a lot of love, but there needs to be a lot of demands and there also needs to be a consequence if the demands are reached. In this case there was a consequence.

On where Mohammed Kudus will play

Question: Where will Kudus play for Spurs, as a second striker, a number eight or a right winger?
Thomas Frank: I think depending on the game, the challenge, the game plan and so on that he can play in all those positions you just named there. I think preferably he’s probably right-wing or 10, (he) can play both positions, but I like flexible players. It gives us opportunities. But those are the two main positions.

On the tactical battle expected against Burnley

Question: What tactical battle are you expecting from Burnley?
Thomas Frank: In some ways, the challenge can't be more different from the challenge we just faced two days ago against PSG. But I think the level of challenge is the same. It's just different from not that much expectation to maybe slightly more expectation tomorrow for the game.

But against a team and a very good manager and coaching staff that have done very well last year. We all know their defensive record, that's insane. 29 clean sheets, 16 goals conceded. I know they [now] step up but that just shows the structure, the discipline, the mentality and ability to defend. So that's a challenge we need to embrace and we will embrace. We will be positive and we will attack. But I think it's a game where we will dominate and it can take time before we score the first goal.

Of course we'd like to score in the first minute and then the roof will go off the stadium, everyone will be happy. You never know, you need to be ready for everything. One thing's for sure, the team, I, us, all of us need to perform. The fans need to perform. We can only do it together. The fans and the team, if they are together it's like energy pushing the players forward that will make it so much easier. We need help of course.

On what he's learnt about his players so far

Question: What's the thing you've learnt about your players so far?
Thomas Frank: I'd like to say two things. One thing is the mentality of the group - I think a very strong mentality. We saw that against PSG, the way they dealt with that game, the way they worked, their approach to it. I think that was very good. And I think the ability to take on board messages and gameplans, because they executed it perfectly. That's the two things.

On having butterflies ahead of his first home game as Spurs boss

Question: Will you have butterflies in your stomach because this is the first time you would have managed a team other than Brentford in the Premier League?
Thomas Frank: I will have tomorrow. If I'm honest now I'm in work mode. I know when I wake up tomorrow and when I step into the stadium I will feel it.

On changing the team due to physical demands after PSG

Question: Will you change up your team to face Burnley, considering the physical demands of the previous game?
Thomas Frank: Of course there were physical demands in every area, in particular the heat was high. The players are very professional and they've recovered well. I can freshen up, whether that is from the start or during the game. I'm a big believer that it's the third game more than the second one that's important in that respect.

On Richarlison's performance and fitness

Question: What are your thoughts on Richarlison’s performance and fitness?
Thomas Frank: Yeah, I think Richy was really phenomenal, his hold up play, his intensity, his arriving in the box was top. And his attitude, top, top top. Of course we’re aware of his fitness situation, that is why we have monitored him closely – that’s why he didn’t play at Reading in the first game, but he is on it.

On Manor Solomon's injury recovery and plans

Question: One player we haven't heard too much about, Manor Solomon, where is he with his injury recovery and is he part of your plans for this season?
Thomas Frank: Every player that is here is part of the plans. Manor is just back from his injury, in terms of being on the pitch he had a part training with the team yesterday, so hopefully he can progress after that.

On sending young players like Mikey Moore and Will Lankshear out on loan

Question: You've let a lot of younger players go out on loan, we saw Mikey Moore and Will Lankshear part of the first-team last year but sent out this time, what is thinking behind that?
Thomas Frank: I think it’s important that there is a fine balance between, I think there’s a lot of learning in training with the first team, but there's also a lot of learning in playing games. So for some players, it's better to stay and train with us and get some minutes here and there, for others, it's better to go out on loan and play regular games.