Thomas Frank discloses what Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence told him following their apparent snub at Tottenham.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has spoken out about his post-match exchange with Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence after the duo appeared to ignore him following the club’s defeat to Chelsea.
The Premier League loss at the weekend was a difficult one for Spurs, who had hoped to showcase their progress under Frank. However, fans were left frustrated by both the performance and result, with boos ringing around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at full-time.
In the aftermath, cameras caught Van de Ven and Spence seemingly snubbing their manager’s attempt to approach them — a moment that quickly sparked talk among supporters about possible tension within the squad.
Addressing the incident via the club’s official website, Frank clarified that the situation had been handled internally and that there is no rift between him and the players.
“Micky and Djed came into my office yesterday, completely on their own, to apologise,” Frank explained. “They didn’t want it to come across as disrespectful towards me, the team, or the club. They were just upset about the performance, the defeat, and the crowd reaction.
“If they hadn’t come in, I would have asked them about it anyway — what they were feeling and why. We often jump to conclusions without knowing the full story. But their decision to speak up showed they care deeply about the team and this club.”
The Spurs boss added that the discussion stayed private, reaffirming his belief in protecting his players: “It’s rare you’ll ever see me throw a player under the bus. We’re all human, and I’ll always stand by them.”
With the Chelsea defeat behind them, Tottenham now turn their focus to the Champions League, where they face Copenhagen at home. After a poor attacking display that saw them record just one shot and an xG of 0.10, Frank will be looking for a strong reaction from his side to restore confidence and momentum.
