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Tottenham Hotspur host Manchester City on Sunday after the two clubs progressed safely to the knockout stage of the Champions League in midweek, with both bosses managing significant injury lists.

Tottenham hot and cold

Spurs' Jekyll and Hyde performances this season have left fans wondering why their European form can't be replicated on the domestic front, where they've recorded just two wins in their last 14 league games.

Such inconsistency has piled pressure on head coach Thomas Frank, but perhaps the warning signs were there before the Lilywhites lured the Dane from west London to north last summer.

Frank, whose side sit 14th, has won just four of his last 22 home league matches. Curiously, he has the exact same record in his first 11 with Spurs – won two, lost six, drawn three – as in his last 11 with Brentford. Now, though, he has three times as many people berating him at games for poor results.

With a slew of injuries in attacking positions, it's perhaps no surprise Spurs have relied on goals from elsewhere on the pitch. In fact, in Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, they boast the two Premier League defenders with the most goals in all competitions this season.

New Blues will boost City's title chase

While Pep Guardiola might not be under the same pressure as his opposite number in the dugout, there are some signs of tetchiness in the Spaniard's recent news conferences, with Manchester City trailing Arsenal by four points at the top of the table.

Last week's win over Wolves was City's first in five league games, with the signing of Antoine Semenyo looking more astute by the week. The Ghana forward has three goals in his first four games since arriving from Bournemouth and, with fellow wideman Jeremy Doku injured in midweek, his importance in the title race cannot be understated.

Another big-name January arrival, Marc Guehi, had an impressive debut at the Etihad, and he too will prove crucial in the run-in. The England centre-back will need to use all his positional nous to stifle a Spurs team who have scored more headed goals than any other in the league this season, with 10.

Guardiola won't exactly relish the trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. City lost the reverse fixture 2-0 in August and his eight league defeats against Spurs are the most he has suffered at the hands of any opponent in his managerial career.

Thomas Frank says Tottenham worked hard to try and sign Antoine Semenyo in January but conceded the transfer window is not like the game Football Manager.

Semenyo, 26, joined Manchester City - Tottenham's opponents on Sunday - for £62.5m earlier this month, but Frank has added to his squad during this window by signing Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher for £35m and Brazil left-back Souza on a long-term deal.

"It was clear, there is no doubt, that the club wanted to sign [Antoine] Semenyo. They did everything and I think that is a clear signal that the Lewis family is very committed," said head coach Frank on Friday.

"That's the quality of players we are looking for to improve the squad."

Frank took over as Tottenham boss from Ange Postecoglou in June last year, signing a contract with the north London club until 2028.

He has come under increasing pressure during his first season at Spurs, with the club 14th in the Premier League table and without a top-flight win in five games. There have been boos by supporters in recent home matches and also chants for Frank to be sacked.

However, Wednesday's win at Eintracht Frankfurt confirmed a top-eight finish in the Champions League table to secure an automatic place in the last 16.

Frank is missing eight senior players through injury for Sunday's visit of Manchester City and the Dane said that makes his squad weaker than it was when the January transfer window opened.

But he does not want to become "obsessed with a short-term fix" because "that's not helping in the long term".

Frank said there could be a "big summer ahead" for Spurs with improvements to his squad, but added the realities of the transfer market are far more complex.

"The fans just want the best for the club, just like I, the owners, the staff, the players. Everyone wants the best for the club.

"But the transfer window is not Football Manager, unfortunately. It is not. It would be a lot easier, but also a little bit more boring.

"We would not have as many good stories to talk about."

Defender Micky van de Ven has a "minor injury" and will be "touch and go" for Sunday.

Dominic Solanke is "still building" but is now "ready to start".

On his side's form: "It has not been perfect, but the past 10 games have been more consistent. We have competed better, especially over the full 90 minutes."

Frank added that "it is a transitional season" and admitted he expected to be higher in the league.

He revealed the club tried to sign Antoine Semenyo, who joined Man City from Bournemouth for £65m this month: "It was clear the club wanted to sign Semenyo, and it is a clear signal that the Lewis family are committed. That would have been a big signing financially."

On whether more business will happen before Monday's deadline: "If we are unable to get players in, then it will be a big summer ahead. I have no doubt we will see big improvements there."

Pep Guardiola is the "best coach in the world", but Frank hopes to find areas to exploit Manchester City.

Manager Pep Guardiola is absent because of "a personal matter" and will return to Manchester today.

Jeremy Doku has a calf injury that is "similar to the last one" he sustained and it will "take time" to heal but they are hopeful the time frame will not be significant.

Ruben Dias will not travel with the squad after his home was targeted by burglars on Wednesday. Lijnders said he is being "supported" by the club and will return to team training Monday.

On opponents Tottenham: "Thomas Frank sets them up in a really clear way. They can link inside to attack through the inside, they can play balls in behind. They are quite fluid on the outside, high-pressing and man-marking team. We are really looking forward to this game."

He said they are not focusing on Arsenal's results and just on "the next game" as "you have to win your own games".

More on the title race: "You have to put pressure and chase, they have to feel us. We have to make sure we go for the maximum points. We know we cannot lose many more games. Try to push not only our points but the race."

On Erling Haaland's finish against Galatasaray: "His mentality sets him apart. For a striker it is always about the next ball and moment. We all know his quality. It is for him to keep believing that it comes. It was pure quality. We need him in good spirits like all our front players. It's only when you're laughing and smiling that you can score these goals."

He said Oscar Bobb's transfer to Fulham is "a big compliment for our academy as it's another player making a big step and who has real Premier League quality."

On whether their transfer activity for this window is completed: "I think we did excellent business. Added strength. If you can find players who can improve your first 11 then it's good business. I feel we succeeded."

The famous New York Yankee pitcher Lefty Gomez said "I'd rather be lucky than good" and with Spurs rarely good, it seems they might well be lucky.

For the second European week in a row, everything fell into place as the mighty Spurs qualified in a lofty fourth place for the Champions League last 16.

Our opponents were the familiar and accommodating Eintracht Frankfurt who rolled over so obediently for us in last season's Europa League. Their 2026 vintage were similarly weak. With their European adventure mathematically over, no manager, and the competition's leakiest defence, they offered very little threat, especially after Spurs went 1-0 up.

As results came in from across Europe, a different school of thought on Thomas Frank did start to percolate for those more trusting to the process. Ernest Hemingway was of the belief that "you make your own luck" and perhaps in that sense I'm doing the Dane a disservice. With Real Madrid, Paris St-Germain and Inter Milan all failing to finish in the top eight, Frank should be patted on the back for a job well done.

Whether the luck of the draw or not, Spurs have rolled through the league phase without ever truly being in trouble. Last night in Germany, Frank reverted to a formation from his scrapbook; a back-to-basics three or five at the back depending on possession. This allowed Spurs to bypass their issues building through the middle and utilize the ball-carrying ability of their wing-backs. Perhaps by returning to his 'Brentford playlist', Frank has finally stumbled on something he can use domestically?

However, despite the tactical tweaks, one man stood head and shoulders above all others: our captain Cuti Romero. Since his sending-off against Liverpool, he has stepped up. His influence, especially in forward areas, is priceless. His eight goal-and-assist contributions this season put many forwards to shame.

Spurs sailing through is a huge achievement. Frank is rightly reaping the rewards for a European job well done - whether lucky or well-deserving.

Aston Villa and Tottenham have been fined following a melee at the conclusion of their FA Cup game on Saturday, 10 January.

Players from both sides were involved in a confrontation shortly after Villa's 2-1 win in the third round at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Both clubs accepted a charge of failing to ensure "players and/or technical area staff did not behave in improper and/or provocative way after the final whistle".

The Independent Regulatory Commission fined both clubs £125,000.

Juventus are stepping up their efforts to sign striker Randal Kolo Muani, who is on loan at Tottenham from Paris St-Germain, and Spurs could look to replace him with Crystal Palace's France forward Jean-Philippe Mateta, 28, if he leaves. (Mail), external

AC Milan are on the lookout for a defender and could target Spurs' Radu Dragusin, who is also of interest to Roma and Napoli. (Calciomercato), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

It was a European run that kept Ange Postecoglou in a Tottenham job last season, despite poor Premier League form. Ultimately, winning the Europa League was still not enough for the Australian, who was sacked at the end of the campaign.

The Champions League has looked to be current boss Thomas Frank's saviour, with Spurs finishing fourth and jumping straight into the last 16 by winning five of their eight group matches.

This dominant victory in wintry conditions in Germany, thanks to goals from Randal Kolo Muani and Dominic Solanke, will ease some of the pressure on Frank, for now at least.

But this success may at least buy Frank some time, with an injury-ravaged squad avoiding two extra games in a daunting February fixture line-up that includes Premier League matches against three of the top four – Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal - as well as a game against Newcastle.

With Tottenham 14th domestically and without a win in five Premier League matches, their fans may have travelled to Eintracht Frankfurt fearing the outcome, but instead they witnessed an excellent display.

Simons thought he had given them a second-minute lead, only for the goal to be ruled out as Destiny Udogie had earlier been in an offside position and fouled his opponent.

Joao Palhinha had a header pushed wide, Wilson Odobert shot against the post, and Simons almost pounced on an error from home goalkeeper Kaua Santos.

Scores elsewhere briefly dropped Tottenham down to ninth and their own victory was in doubt when Frankfurt's Hugo Larsson raced through, but he could only blast against the crossbar from six yards out when it was goalless.

However, Kolo Muani quickly settled nerves after the restart with the vital goal against the side he played for in the 2022-23 season.

Spurs dominated the rest of the game, with Kolo Muani, Pape Matar Sarr and Romero all missing chances, although it did not matter as Solanke's goal saw Frank and his side celebrate victory and qualification.

Goals from Randal Kolo Muani and Dominic Solanke give Tottenham a comfortable 2-0 away win against Eintracht Frankfurt, as Thomas Frank's side finish the league phase in fourth to automatically qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League.

MATCH REPORT: Champions League - Eintracht Frankfurt 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur

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