Thomas Frank has decided to grant his Tottenham squad Christmas Day off, aligning with their schedule ahead of Monday's match against Crystal Palace in London.
Frank's admonition to his players to act as "grown-ups" comes amid an ongoing investigation into the England's Test cricket team regarding allegations of excessive drinking during the Ashes series against Australia.
Tottentham has faced challenges since Frank took over after the dismissal of Ange Postecoglou, currently sitting 14th in the Premier League following five defeats in eight matches across all competitions.
This underwhelming performance has sparked frustration among fans, many of whom are losing faith in Frank. His decision to allow the team to have Christmas Day off may not resonate positively with supporters.
In explaining his rationale, Frank stated, “This week we actually handle in the same way I would have done with any other week. If it was not Christmas, it was still done the same.” He emphasized the importance of professionalism among players, suggesting that while some may need more guidance, they are ultimately responsible adults.
His comments come in the wake of a viral video that allegedly shows England's Ben Duckett intoxicated, which emerged shortly after England's cricket management announced an investigation into claims of excessive drinking during a break in Noosa. The team faced a 2-0 deficit in the Ashes series and concluded the series with a 3-0 loss.
England's managing director of cricket, Rob Key, expressed concern over the drinking culture, stating that while he supports the idea of relaxation during the trip, any behavior exceeding that would be unacceptable.
Frank will face additional challenges as he will be missing captain Cristian Romero and Xavi Simons due to suspensions for the match at Selhurst Park.
Despite these setbacks, Frank drew parallels between his current situation at Tottenham and his earlier tenure at Brondby, where he overcame a rough start to find success over three years. He views his role at Tottenham as a significant challenge, given the club's stature and the pressure to perform in both the Champions League and Premier League simultaneously.
0 Comments