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Thomas Frank sacked by Tottenham Hotspur after dismal run of results

Miguel Delaney

Wednesday 11 February 2026 10:11 GMT

Tottenham have sacked head coach Thomas Frank after just eight months in charge of the club.

The decision follows an eight-game winless run in domestic competitions for Spurs.

Tottenham suffered their seventh home league defeat of the season on Tuesday, losing 2-1 to Newcastle.

Fan dissatisfaction had been growing due to poor results, including dropped points against Burnley and a recent loss to Manchester United.

Frank, who replaced Ange Postecoglou, leaves Tottenham six points above the Premier League's relegation zone and out of domestic cup competitions.

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Jacob Ramsey’s decisive goal secured a crucial 2-1 Premier League victory for Newcastle, intensifying pressure on manager Thomas Frank and deepening Tottenham’s alarming relegation fears.

Tottenham’s dismal domestic form, compounded by 11 absentees, is fuelling survival fears, with this latest abject display underscoring the north London club’s crisis.

Malick Thiaw’s stoppage-time effort gave Newcastle a deserved half-time lead, leading to boos for Tottenham’s players and chants for former boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Archie Gray equalised in the 64th minute, but Ramsey swept home the winner four minutes later, inflicting a fifth defeat in nine matches on Tottenham, who have won just two of their last 17 league games.

Frank faced "you’re getting sacked in the morning" chants from his own supporters, leaving ownership with a major decision on the head coach, with their next fixture against rivals Arsenal just 12 days away.

This was a meeting between two of the league's most out-of-form clubs and the tension of the occasion was evident in Tottenham, especially after two balls flashed over the crossbar from two early Newcastle corners.

Xavi Simons dragged an effort wide soon after for Spurs, but it failed to halt the nervous energy filtering throughout the team.

Willock's low effort off target only increased anxiety inside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and when goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario flapped at a catchable cross in the 20th minute, the disgruntled home fan base were ready to erupt before Ramsey sent a second strike inches past the post.

Tottenham's list of absentees extended on the half-hour mark when Wilson Odobert suffered a potentially serious knee injury but the introduction of Mathys Tel was greeted with big cheers.

It failed to halt Newcastle's momentum and after Dan Burn headed wide, the visitors did have the ball in the net.

Ramsey found Willock, who cut inside and curled into the bottom corner after 43 minutes, but it was ruled out after a VAR intervention with the tip of Willock's head deemed offside.

The let-off for Spurs was not heeded and Newcastle finally took the lead in deserved fashion in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

After an initial corner was cleared, Willock produced a fine cross to the back post and even though Vicario saved Thiaw's first header, the Magpies defender showed great desire to get to the loose ball and fire home the opener.

Boos followed at half-time and the second period was only four minutes old when Tottenham fans in the South Stand chanted for Pochettino.

It sparked life into Spurs as Tel unsuccessfully tried his luck from range before a fine Gray run teed up Tel for another chance, but the substitute blazed over.

Pape Sarr forced Nick Pope into action for the first time in the 54th minute and 10 minutes later Tottenham did level.

A corner from Xavi was headed back across goal by Sarr and Gray nodded in, but home joy was short-lived.

Conor Gallagher's poor pass ended a Spurs counter-attack and Anthony Gordon dribbled into the area before he teed up Ramsey to sweep home.

Frank turned to his bench with Randal Kolo Muani introduced, but Van de Ven fired over Tottenham's last genuine chance in stoppage time and Frank faced more chants for his departure before full-time.

It was despair for Spurs but relief for Newcastle and Eddie Howe after they ended a run of three straight league defeats.

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Liveupdated

West Ham vs Man United live: Michael Carrick’s side bid for five wins in a row in Premier League

Man United will look to move into third as they travel to the capital bidding for a fifth straight Premier League win

West Ham face Manchester United in the Premier League with the visitors hoping to move into third as they look for a fifth straight league win since Michael Carrick took charge.

United cruised to a 2-0 win over Tottenham last week after a Cristian Romero red card effectively ended the game as a contest, but while they have now risen to fourth after four wins from four to begin Carrick’s tenure, they might face a tough test against a resurgent West Ham side.

The Hammers begin the week in 18th after their win over Burnley at the weekend, and while Nuno Espirito Santo’s side remain three points adrift of safety, the win over Sunderland and the performance against Chelsea show that they can provide a stern test for most teams in the league.

Follow the latest team news and updates from the London Stadium below:

If it ain't broke...

Michael Carrick is going with the ‘if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it’ approach and once again does not change his side from the previous outing, which saw Man United comfortably beat Tottenham.

West Ham, meanwhile, make just the one alteration, swapping Callum Wilson for Freddie Potts. Taty Castellanos and Crysencio Summerville, the goalscorers in the 2-0 win over Burnley, start for the Hammers.

Will Castle10 February 2026 19:08

CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS!

West Ham XI: Hermansen; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Disasi, Diouf; Soucek, Potts; Bowen, M. Fernandes, Summerville; Castellanos.

Manchester United XI: Lammens; Dalot, Martinez, Maguire, Shaw; Mainoo, Casemiro; Diallo, B. Fernandes, Cunha; Mbeumo.

Will Castle10 February 2026 19:02

Team news

Line-ups will be released in the next five minutes, so here’s a reminder of the early team news for both sides...

West Ham remain without suspended Jean-Clair Todibo and injured goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, with Chelsea loanee Axel Disasi set for his home bow.

United have no new injury concerns, with Matthijs de Ligt, Mason Mount and Patrick Dorgu still the only players sidelined.

Chris Wilson10 February 2026 18:50

Carrick: 'We've got a lot to fight for'

Here’s what Man Utd interim boss Michael Carrick had to say on his side and tonight’s opponents:

"We do seem to be a team that can cause a lot of problems and create opportunities and score goals, so it's definitely getting the balance right. There's still things to improve on, it's definitely something we've focused on, trying to be better as a team collectively when we don't have the ball,” said the former midfielder on his side and keeping clean sheets.

He added that West Ham will be “fighting” for a result, but explained: “So are we. We've got a lot to fight for, so you'd like to think that balances out in some ways and it's who can come out on top at the end of it, but sure, we're totally aware of what we're going into on Tuesday night and how difficult it will be."

Chris Wilson10 February 2026 18:40

Bruno Fernandes hails ‘great manager’ Michael Carrick after Man United extend winning run

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes heaped praise on “great manager” Michael Carrick after he masterminded a fourth-straight victory.

Fernandes scored late on at Old Trafford to round off a professional 2-0 Premier League triumph over 10-man Tottenham on Saturday to move United to within three points of third-placed Aston Villa.

It took Carrick’s overall record as United boss to six wins in seven matches – after a three-game spell in 2021 – and Fernandes revealed what he told his current boss four years ago.

Fernandes hails ‘great manager’ Carrick after Man United extend winning run

Carrick has won six of his seven matches as Manchester United boss across two spells

Chris Wilson10 February 2026 18:30

Match stats

West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen has scored three goals in his last five Premier League games against Manchester United, while no Hammers player has scored more against the Red Devils in the competition than Bowen (3).

Bruno Fernandes has been involved in 10 goals in his last eight away Premier League appearances (2 goals, 8 assists).

Matheus Cunha has had a hand in four goals in his last five away Premier League appearances for Manchester United (3 goals, 1 assist).

Chris Wilson10 February 2026 18:20

Luckless Thomas Frank rues what might have been as Bryan Mbeumo punishes Spurs

And here’s the report from United’s 2-0 win over Spurs, courtesy of Richsrd Jolly:

Thomas Frank may have been vindicated. Sadly for him, he was beaten in the process. Under Frank, Bryan Mbeumo scored 20 Premier League goals for Brentford last season. When the Dane joined Tottenham, he hoped to lure Mbeumo across London with him.

Instead, Mbeumo joined Manchester United, and with a certain inevitability, he, along with Bruno Fernandes, duly scored in their 2-0 victory over Spurs. He has struck home and away against Tottenham this season. Spurs also targeted Eberechi Eze, who went to Arsenal and got a hat-trick against them. That may be the story of Frank’s Tottenham, a tale of what might have been. A defeat shaped by the first-half red card of his captain, Cristian Romero, for a lunge at Casemiro, worsened his plight. Frank’s detractors may suggest he is hapless. He can certainly look luckless.

Luckless Thomas Frank rues what might have been as Bryan Mbeumo punishes Spurs

Man Utd 2-0 Tottenham: Frank wanted Spurs to sign Mbeumo last summer but instead the former Brentford striker went to Old Trafford and scored against his former boss’s team

Richard Jolly10 February 2026 18:10

Scott Parker and Burnley’s woes go on as West Ham secure important victory

Here’s the report from West Ham’s win over Burnley at the weekend...

West Ham moved to within three points of safety and pushed Burnley a step closer to relegation with a 2-0 win that saw sections of the Turf Moor crowd turn on Scott Parker.

Crysencio Summerville scored for a fifth straight game 13 minutes in and when Taty Castellanos doubled the lead 13 minutes later, it felt like game over not just for the afternoon, but for Burnley’s season as a whole as they were left 11 points adrift of 17th place.

Without a win in 16 league matches – one shy of a club record that dates from 1889-90 – Burnley could not take advantage of a home fixture against a West Ham side who travelled north with only one win in their last 10 on the road, but who left within touching distance of Nottingham Forest.

Scott Parker and Burnley’s woes go on as West Ham secure important victory

Burnley 0-2 West Ham: The home side look set for a return to the Championship

Chris Wilson10 February 2026 18:00

When is West Ham vs Manchester United?

West Ham’s clash with Manchester United kicks off at 8:15pm GMT on Tuesday 10 February at the London Stadium.

How can I watch it?

Viewers in the UK will be able to watch the match on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate, with coverage starting at 7pm. Subscribers can also stream the game on discovery+.

Chris Wilson10 February 2026 17:50

Predicted line-ups

West Ham XI: Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Disasi, Diouf; Soucek, Potts; Bowen, M. Fernandes, Summerville; Castellanos.

Manchester United XI: Lammens; Dalot, Martinez, Maguire, Shaw; Mainoo, Casemiro; Diallo, B. Fernandes, Cunha; Mbeumo.

Chris Wilson10 February 2026 17:45

It’s the clash of the under-pressure managers as Thomas Frank’s Tottenham and Eddie Howe’s Newcastle clash in the Premier League, with both desperate for a positive result.

A week on from salvaging a point against Manchester City, Spurs were back to losing ways at Old Trafford on Saturday and are now drifting dangerously close to a relegation battle, just as the teams below them are beginning to find form.

Newcastle, meanwhile, suffered another home defeat on the weekend as Brentford snatched a late winner at St James’s Park, leaving the club 12th.

Howe has insisted that he remains the right man for the job but a poor outcome against one of the league’s most out-of-form teams could prove the final straw for the club’s hierarchy, and vice versa for Frank.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the clash.

Is Tottenham vs Newcastle on TV?

Tottenham’s clash with Newcastle kicks off at 7:30pm GMT on Tuesday 10 February at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

How can I watch it?

Viewers in the UK will be able to watch the match on TNT Sports 3, with coverage starting at 7pm. Subscribers can also stream the game on discovery+.

Team news

Tottenham are without Cristian Romero for three games due to suspension, while Destiny Udogie joins the plethora of injury absentees with a thigh problem. Djed Spence could make his return from a calf issue in a rare positive fitness update.

Lewis Miley is in a race against time to recover from a knee injury in time for the trip south, with Joelinton, Emil Krafth and Anthony Gordon also unlikely to feature. Fabian Schar and Tino Livramento remain out with longer-term problems.

Tottenham XI: Vicario; Gray, Dragusin, Van de Ven, Spence; Sarr, Palhinha, Gallagher; Simons, Solanke, Kolo Muani.

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Liveupdated

Man Utd vs Tottenham live: Carrick aims to continue winning streak against under pressure Frank

The Red Devils have won all three of their matches under the interim boss and host 14th placed Spurs at Old Trafford

Manchester United host Tottenham in the Premier League’s early kick off this afternoon knowing that a victory will keep them in the top four and take them one step closer to securing Champions League qualification.

The feeling of hope has returned to Old Trafford since Michael Carrick replaced Ruben Amorim as head coach with the former United midfielder orchestrating three wins from his first three matches in charge. Carrick’s United have seen off both Manchester City and Arsenal before the restoration of ‘Fergie-time’ saw Benjamin Sesko steal all three points against Fulham late in stoppage time in their previous outing.

Carrick’s goal is to guide United to a top four (possibly top five) finish and guarantee them Champions League football next season and he has made the perfect start.

Today, United take on a struggled Tottenham side but Thomas Frank’s side will have gained confidence in the way they salvaged a 2-2 draw against Manchester City last weekend. The spotlight is still shining brightly on whether the Dane can turnaround the club’s league form and a win away at Old Trafford would ease the pressure.

Follow all the updates from the Premier League with our live blog below:

Michael Carrick explores Tottenham past and love of Man Utd ahead of crucial Premier League test

Michael Carrick finds himself up against Thomas Frank just five months on from interviewing the Tottenham boss as Manchester United’s head coach hunts a fourth win on the bounce.

The 44-year-old has enjoyed a dream start to his reign for the remainder of the campaign, with wins against Manchester City and Arsenal followed by last Sunday’s thrilling 3-2 victory against Fulham.

Michael Carrick explores Spurs past and love of Man Utd ahead of Premier League test

The United boss will share the Old Trafford touchline with a coach he interviewed last year ahead of Frank’s first Champions League game.

Mike Jones7 February 2026 11:00

Dorgu set for spell on sidelines

Patrick Dorgu has been a revelation under Michael Carrick but an injury means he’s set to be absent for most of the remaining season.

Carrick could not offer an specific return date but confirmed Dorgu would be missing for ‘weeks’.

“We’re working through it. It’ll definitely be a number of weeks,” the United boss explained of Dorgu’s injury.

“It will be a considerable period of time. He’s not going to be back in the next two or three weeks. To be more exact is a little bit difficult, at this moment.

"It could possibly be [10 weeks], we’re working through it. Certainly, we’re looking forward to getting him back as quickly as we can and getting on the pitch long before the end of the season.”

Mike Jones7 February 2026 10:54

Frank on Tottenham's transfer business

Was January a good transfer window for the struggling Spurs?

“We signed Conor Gallagher, who is a quality player for the starting XI,” Thomas Frank explained.

“Of course, he needs to perform, and no one has promised any position, but we signed a quality player and we signed a young player for the future.

“I think if you compare that to a lot of the other Premier League clubs, I think that is very good. I think where we are is okay. We tried to do more, but it was not possible for whatever reason.

“I said it the whole time that it is very, very important that we take good decisions and are calm. It needs to be for the short-term and the long-term.”

Mike Jones7 February 2026 10:48

Thomas Frank provides injury updates on Spurs squad

Ahead of this crucial Premier League clash, Thomas Frank gave an update into the fitness of the Tottenham squad and was boosted by the return of Micky van de Ven.

“Everyone, mostly, is okay. Micky trained today and is available for selection for Saturday, so that’s good,” Frank admitted.

“Djed [Spence] is getting closer, it will be touch and go and there's a good chance he'll be ready.”

Mike Jones7 February 2026 10:42

Michael Carrick admits winning late at Old Trafford is ‘the best feeling’

Michael Carrick savoured “the best feeling” after watching Benjamin Sesko’s stoppage-time winner earn Manchester United a dramatic 3-2 victory over Fulham.

“It’s the best feeling I have to say,” Carrick said of winning the game in what he knew as ‘Fergie time’ when a player here. “Some of the best moments I’ve been part of here, you can dissect performances and there are plusses and not, and then you get a moment of elation and excitement like that.

“For me there’s no better place than in front of the Stretford End like that. It ends up meaning more. People leave here with more than just, ‘United won today’ – it’s layers on top of that, the emotion and the feeling and it’s why we all love it so much.”

Mike Jones7 February 2026 10:36

The ‘Manchester United Way’ is back as ‘Fergie Time’ win over Fulham restores feelgood factor

When Manchester United scored their injury-time winner, the cameras panned to Sir Alex Ferguson, because that is what happens at such moments. It was Fergie Time.

It was also a Carrick scoreline, though. A second successive 3-2 win, a third in the six matches Michael Carrick has overseen – including three in 2021 – seemed confirmation that, calm a character as the head coach is, he can preside over some dramatic, terrific matches.

Manchester United Way is back: ‘Fergie Time’ win over Fulham restores feelgood factor

Manchester United 3-2 Fulham: Benjamin Sesko scores stoppage-time winner as hosts continue dream start to life under Michael Carrick

Mike Jones7 February 2026 10:30

Tottenham's injury concerns

Thomas Frank will hope to welcome back Micky van de Ven, who missed the City draw with a minor problem, and Dominic Solanke is expected to be fit despite being withdrawn early in that game with a rolled ankle.

Mohammed Kudus, Ben Davies, James Maddison and Rodrigo Bentancur are among those out with longer-term injuries, while Saturday will come too soon for the returns of Richarlison and Pedro Porro.

Predicted Tottenham XI: Vicario; Gray, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Gallagher, Palhinha, Sarr; Kolo Muani, Simons, Solanke.

Mike Jones7 February 2026 10:24

Manchester United's early team news

United should welcome back Mason Mount after taking a knock in training ahead of the Fulham clash.

Patrick Dorgu and Matthijs de Ligt remain sidelined.

Predicted Manchester United XI: Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Diallo, Fernandes, Cunha; Mbeumo.

Mike Jones7 February 2026 10:18

How can I watch the game?

Viewers in the UK can watch the game on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Ultimate, with coverage starting at 11am.

Subscribers can also stream the match on discovery+.

Mike Jones7 February 2026 10:12

When is Manchester United vs Tottenham?

Manchester United’s clash with Tottenham kicks off at 12:30pm GMT on Saturday 7 February at Old Trafford.

Mike Jones7 February 2026 10:06

Manchester United play host to Tottenham in today’s lunchtime kick-off with Michael Carrick hoping to maintain his perfect start to life as interim boss at Old Trafford.

Carrick is coming off three wins on the bounce since being appointed last month - a feat Ruben Amorim only achieved once during his 14-month reign - though was fortunate to escape dropped points against Fulham last Sunday, requiring the stoppage-time heroics of Benjamin Sesko to claim victory.

He’ll nevertheless strive to make it four in a row against the team he joined United from as a player in 2006, with the prospect of a relegation fight more than non-existent for Tottenham.

Thomas Frank perhaps survived another close shave with the sack last weekend, with Spurs salvaging a 2-2 draw against Manchester City despite putting in a lifeless first-half performance, but the Dane will need to keep the good results coming if he is to survive long in the Spurs hot seat.

Here’s everything you need to know.

When is Manchester United vs Tottenham?

Manchester United’s clash with Tottenham kicks off at 12:30pm GMT on Saturday 7 February at Old Trafford.

How can I watch it?

Viewers in the UK can watch the game on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Ultimate, with coverage starting at 11am. Subscribers can also stream the match on discovery+.

Team news

United should welcome back Mason Mount after taking a knock in training ahead of the Fulham clash. Patrick Dorgu and Matthijs de Ligt remain sidelined.

Frank will hope to welcome back Micky van de Ven, who missed the City draw with a minor problem, and Dominic Solanke is expected to be fit despite being withdrawn early in that game with a rolled ankle. Mohammed Kudus, Ben Davies, James Maddison and Rodrigo Bentancur are among those out with longer-term injuries, while Saturday will come too soon for the returns of Richarlison and Pedro Porro.

Predicted line-ups

Manchester United XI: Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Diallo, Fernandes, Cunha; Mbeumo.

“Sometimes a cup competition can hide the fact you’re still struggling,” said Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2021, the Manchester United manager playing down the importance of trophies as a marker of his team’s progress.

“Sometimes it’s more of an ego thing from other managers and clubs to finally win something”, added the Norwegian, who preferred to focus on league position as a yardstick for how his side were progressing.

Whether or not you agree, it would certainly be interesting to see what Ruben Amorim and Ange Postecoglou think. The first quote did not apply to either manager, with their runs to the final of the Europa League last season failing to mask the obvious struggles at United and Tottenham Hotspur.

But Postecoglou got the chance to boost his ego with a trophy, Spurs’ 1-0 win in the Europa League final providing the chance for a turnaround, United seemingly doomed to mediocracy or worse. It certainly felt like that in the stands of the San Mames and on the streets of Bilbao.

There were plenty of parallels between the clubs at the time, from the obvious struggles on the pitch to their runs to the final and questions over the managers. But while the United hierarchy came under the microscope, less was made of Tottenham’s struggles in the boardroom. After all, a trophy after 17 years is surely a success. Perhaps we all fell for the facade that winning a trophy can provide.

This moment was Tottenham’s to enjoy. At the time, Postecoglou suggested the Europa League win “accelerates the opportunities to build a team who can be successful”. He was right on paper, though he added that he felt that while there was a lot of work to be done, it was “not as much work as people may think”. He was not correct in this assertion.

Of course, Postecoglou was sacked 16 days after the final, a Premier League season with 38 points proving that Solskjaer’s first theory can only go so far.

Thomas Frank is now the man under the microscope in the Tottenham hotseat, the Dane facing a seemingly impossible task in getting the club to compete both domestically and in Europe.

The parallels with United remain, though there are some important differences. While both clubs invested heavily over summer, United’s ability to spend over £200m on a new frontline alone – even without any European football – puts them in a place that it’s difficult for Spurs to compete with. In terms of league performance, Tottenham are languishing in 14th in the Premier League, 12 points behind United as they visit Old Trafford for Saturday’s early kick-off.

The boardrooms remain eerily similar, however. Daniel Levy’s exit last year was a surprise given his role in transforming Tottenham into the latest of the ‘top six’ clubs, but as has been the allegation against United, it was suggested that there was too much of a focus on business rather than “sustained sporting success”.

As with United, plenty of change has been promised at Tottenham, the usual PR speak included in statements that promised “more wins more often” in this “new era” for the club. Tottenham sporting director Johan Lange even recently revealed “big ambitions” for the club in this summer’s window.

United fans can sympathise with their Spurs counterparts when it comes to this sort of empty statement. Not every trophy offers the opportunity for a rebuild, but the Europa League does – with suggestions Spurs have already earned over £70m so far from the competition this season – and given the size of the club, Tottenham should have the ability to capitalise.

This is obviously where the frustration stems from. Fans see a state-of-the-art stadium, reports of over £600m in revenue – ranking them in the top 10 clubs in the world – and a summer spend of £170m, but a team in 14th.

It was not necessarily the wrong decision to hire Frank. He has a record of sustained success at Brentford and managers don’t become ‘bad’ overnight, while injuries have played a huge part in the derailment of Spurs’ season, with 11 potential absentees for the United game, at least six of whom would be regular starters.

Rather, like United, Spurs’ on-pitch struggles remain a reflection of problems in the hierarchy. Many of those issues relate to recruitment, with little evidence of the ‘right’ people in the key positions related to transfer dealings.

The list of sub-par signings Tottenham have made in recent season makes for worrying reading. Richarlison, Mathys Tel, Brennan Johnson, Guigliemo Vicario, Yves Bissouma and Wilson Odobert arrived for a sum approaching £200m, and at the very least all would need to be replaced before the club could have a chance of challenging for a title.

There have been some successes – Maddison, Kulusevski and Micky van de Ven among them – but some of the decisions have been staggering. The club must have had enough evidence to steer clear of the likes of Randal Kolo Muani, while they even had six months of evidence regarding Tel before deciding to sign him for £30m and then omitting him from the squad for the Champions League.

To make matters worse, the hierarchy are not taking any responsibility, as alluded to by captain Cristian Romero, who said it was “disgraceful” that the club only had “11 players available” for the draw with Manchester City last week. Romero’s comments were met with the statement from sporting director Johan Lange instead, in a week where reports suggest their captain could leave at the end of the season.

So Solskjaer’s comments are relevant once again, this time for Spurs as they visit Old Trafford. The relative success in Europe has not been enough to distract from their league form, the ego boost of winning the Europa League now replaced with a harsh reminder of where the club stands. No matter what you’ve won in the past, the results in the last few weeks are always the most important.

However, while Frank may pay with his job, the cycle at Spurs looks set to continue. United fans know better than anyone that most problems at a club can be traced back to the hierarchy, with their own board needing to get everything right in a vital summer if they want to get closer to challenging again.

And it is here where the two clubs share the most important parallel of all. Both have plenty of ambition, but is either boardroom competent enough to deliver?

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Thomas Frank responds to Romero’s criticism of Spurs squad depth

George Sessions

Friday 06 February 2026 08:32 GMT

Tottenham captain Cristian Romero posted on Instagram, stating he played through illness against Manchester City and criticised the squad's depth, calling it "disgraceful" that only 11 fit players were available.

Manager Thomas Frank addressed the incident, confirming it was handled internally but sidestepped questions regarding any disciplinary action or fines for Romero.

Frank acknowledged Romero's passionate nature and ambition but stated he personally would not have made such comments publicly.

The manager also noted the club's limited transfer activity since signing Conor Gallagher on 14 January and the loss of nine players to injuries since the start of 2026, which exacerbated the situation.

Frank confirmed that Romero is expected to be available for the upcoming match against Manchester United, along with Micky van de Ven, who returns from injury.

Tottenham captain Cristian Romero has said it was “disgraceful” that the club only had “11 players available” for this weekend’s visit of Manchester City in an apparent dig at the Spurs hierarchy.

Romero was replaced at half-time of the clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium due to illness, with his side at that point completely lifeless and without much hope of turning around a two-goal deficit.

That they managed to do after the restart with Dominic Solanke’s double - which included a scorpion kick - salvaging a point for Thomas Frank’s struggling side.

Romero has nevertheless taken to social media to seemingly voice his displeasure with the state of affairs at Tottenham, something he has done previously this season.

“Great effort from all my teammates yesterday, they were incredible,” Romero wrote on Instagram. “I wanted to be available to help them even though I wasn’t feeling well, especially since we only had 11 players available — unbelievable but true and disgraceful.

“We’ll keep showing up and taking responsibility to turn this around, working hard and staying together. All that’s left is to thank all of you for being there and for always supporting us, the fans.”

It comes less than a month after the Argentinian took aim at key figures at Tottenham after the club’s 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth.

The World Cup winner questioned why “other people” at the club are not speaking, but claimed that “has been happening for several years”, adding that they have “only show up when things are going well, to tell a few lies”.

He later deleted the post and re-uploaded it without the line about “lies”.

Romero also previously pointed out “the many obstacles that always existed and always will exist” when he paid tribute to sacked Ange Postecoglou in June.