Thomas Frank reveals the Tottenham star who has been finding the net with ease in recent training sessions.
Concerns continue to grow over Tottenham Hotspur’s creativity in the final third, with a string of underwhelming attacking performances highlighting a lack of inventiveness.
From a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa last weekend to a scrappy 2-1 victory over Leeds before the international break, alongside a dramatic 1-1 draw against Wolves and a disappointing stalemate away to Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League, Thomas Frank’s side have struggled to consistently unlock opposition defenses.
Thomas Frank’s managerial record at Tottenham so far
Matches: 12
Wins: 6
Draws: 3
Losses: 3
Points: 18
Points per game: 1.75
Late comebacks were needed to secure points against both Bodo/Glimt and Wolves, causing concern for Frank, while two deflected goals from Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus sealed a hard-fought win at Elland Road.
Against Villa, despite Rodrigo Bentancur giving Spurs an early lead, the team failed to build on their advantage, creating few clear chances and allowing Unai Emery’s side back into the game. Two stunning strikes from Morgan Rogers and Emiliano Buendia condemned Tottenham to their first defeat in all competitions since the 1-0 loss to Bournemouth.
Summer signing Xavi Simons, who joined from RB Leipzig with high expectations, has struggled to impose his attacking flair, leading to criticism as he continues to adapt to English football. Speaking in his pre-Monaco press conference, Frank defended the Dutchman.
> “Xavi, I think there were some good bits that we worked with him and I asked him to be more arriving in the box, which when I looked the game back, he did,” said Frank. “Was there the big eye-catching moment? No, but there were good glimpses. So, I think it’s constantly going a little bit in the right direction.”
Frank also addressed the situation of last season’s top scorer, Brennan Johnson, who has been limited to substitute appearances in recent weeks. The Wales international ended the 2024/25 campaign with 18 goals and seven assists in all competitions, including the decisive strike in the Europa League final against Manchester United — one of the most significant moments in Tottenham’s recent history.
Despite his reduced role, Frank revealed that Johnson has been in fine form on the training ground.
> “Brennan is a very important player,” Frank told football.london. “He’s fantastic — an important goal last season, top scorer for the club. He also started the season well and has scored two good goals. Brennan has trained very well the last couple of weeks, doing what he does best — scoring goals in training, which is important to keep showing that I’m not taking the right decision if he’s not in the team. He can play both left and right. Of course, Mohamed Kudus has done very well on the right, and Wilson has done well on the left. It’s just competition. Brennan just needs to keep going. He will get his games.”
Johnson’s pace and finishing ability remain valuable assets for Spurs, especially when the team needs an injection of energy in attack. If he continues his fine form in training and takes his opportunities on the pitch, the 24-year-old could soon reclaim a key role in Frank’s plans.
With James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski still sidelined, and Randal Kolo Muani and Dominic Solanke close to returning, Tottenham could soon rediscover their attacking rhythm and become a far more potent force going forward.
