Tottenham's win against 10-man Dortmund leaves Frank on thin ice as Spurs cling to European hopes.
A season that seemed all but lost after a disastrous defeat against West Ham has suddenly taken an unexpected turn for Tottenham, thanks to a 3-0 home victory over Borussia Dortmund. Thomas Frank, the manager under fire after the West Ham debacle, now finds himself at a critical juncture in his tenure, as Spurs cling to their European aspirations.
Frank's team was dealt a blow early on when Daniel Svensson was given a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Wilson Odobert, but they capitalized on Dortmund's weakness by going ahead through Cristian Romero. The breakthrough goal seemed like a formality after Dominic Solanke had fluffed a straightforward finish, only to see the ball rebound home off his trailing foot.
The first half was a masterclass in Spurs' organization and efficiency under Frank's new 3-4-1-2 formation, with Destiny Udogie and Djed Spence causing chaos for Dortmund's defense. Xavi Simons, who played through pain after suffering an ankle injury against West Ham, was at the heart of everything, using his vision to unlock the opposition.
Svensson's red card had given Frank's team a significant advantage, but they maintained their intensity in the second half, with Solanke scoring his first goal of the season and adding to the tally. The Dortmund manager, Nico Kovac, made several changes in an attempt to stem the flow, but Spurs were well-equipped to deal with them.
As the game wore on, it became increasingly clear that Spurs had done enough, with Julian Brandt's late header from a corner by Nico Schlotterbeck proving to be little more than a consolation. Frank's team, meanwhile, dug in and saw out the game, thanks in large part to Simons' tireless efforts.
The win leaves Tottenham two points behind Burnley, who they face next on Saturday. It's a must-win for Spurs, not just to secure European qualification but also to give Frank the confidence boost he needs to convince his fans that he is the right man for the job.
A season that seemed all but lost after a disastrous defeat against West Ham has suddenly taken an unexpected turn for Tottenham, thanks to a 3-0 home victory over Borussia Dortmund. Thomas Frank, the manager under fire after the West Ham debacle, now finds himself at a critical juncture in his tenure, as Spurs cling to their European aspirations.
Frank's team was dealt a blow early on when Daniel Svensson was given a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Wilson Odobert, but they capitalized on Dortmund's weakness by going ahead through Cristian Romero. The breakthrough goal seemed like a formality after Dominic Solanke had fluffed a straightforward finish, only to see the ball rebound home off his trailing foot.
The first half was a masterclass in Spurs' organization and efficiency under Frank's new 3-4-1-2 formation, with Destiny Udogie and Djed Spence causing chaos for Dortmund's defense. Xavi Simons, who played through pain after suffering an ankle injury against West Ham, was at the heart of everything, using his vision to unlock the opposition.
Svensson's red card had given Frank's team a significant advantage, but they maintained their intensity in the second half, with Solanke scoring his first goal of the season and adding to the tally. The Dortmund manager, Nico Kovac, made several changes in an attempt to stem the flow, but Spurs were well-equipped to deal with them.
As the game wore on, it became increasingly clear that Spurs had done enough, with Julian Brandt's late header from a corner by Nico Schlotterbeck proving to be little more than a consolation. Frank's team, meanwhile, dug in and saw out the game, thanks in large part to Simons' tireless efforts.
The win leaves Tottenham two points behind Burnley, who they face next on Saturday. It's a must-win for Spurs, not just to secure European qualification but also to give Frank the confidence boost he needs to convince his fans that he is the right man for the job.
! Tottenham really needed a result like this, especially after that West Ham loss, and they totally delivered 
. Thomas Frank's team was on fire 
, especially with Xavi Simons in the middle of the park 
. I mean, the guy's vision is just top-notch 
. And to see Spurs clinging to European hopes? That's a huge relief 
. Frank's gotta be relieved too, but he's on thin ice now 
. This win is gonna give him some serious confidence, but it'll also put pressure on him to keep the team in contention 
. Bring it on!
. Frank's gotta be breathing a sigh of relief, this win's got to give him some much-needed confidence 
. I'm rooting for Spurs, hope they can keep this momentum going and make the Europa League 
. I mean, they're not gonna get ahead of themselves or anything, but that win over Dortmund is definitely a turning point for Spurs. They need to keep this momentum going if they wanna make the playoffs 
. Burnley's game next Saturday is gonna be super intense... can't wait to see how it all plays out 
. He's like a conductor leading his team to victory, always finding space and unlocking their opponents. And to play through pain? That's dedication right there 
.
️. Bring on Saturday!
. Like, two wins in a row doesn't erase all the losses they had earlier, you feel? They need to keep this momentum going or else the fans will be all over him 
. And can we talk about how Xavi Simons is just carrying that team right now?! 
burnley next sat and it's gotta be a win for spurs or else frank's done 
. for spurs tho, this is a huge turn around. 2 points from burnley now, all or nothing on saturday 
they were down & out but now they're back in the mix! i'm lovin' the new formation tho - it's like a breath of fresh air 
frank's got some serious work to do tho, can't let his team's hopes slip away again 
i'm so hyped 4 spurs now they gotta hold on & keep the pressure up 
. Can't wait to see what happens next Saturday against Burnley - gotta win that one too 
that guy's got skills for days. i'm loving the new 3-4-1-2 formation too, it seems to be working out nicely for them. anyway, gotta say, frank's got some 'splainin' to do after this win if he wants to keep his job 