Frank reveals reasons for benching Xavi Simons as he pushes back against criticism of his Spurs team.
Thomas Frank says he isn’t bothered by what pundits think of his Tottenham side and has explained why Xavi Simons has recently been left out of the starting XI.
Spurs have struggled after their strong opening under Frank, managing only three wins in their last 12 matches. They have shipped nine goals across defeats to Arsenal and PSG, though their attacking play improved in the 5–3 loss in Paris on Wednesday. Pundits have been critical, and former Spurs defender Ramon Vega recently claimed on talkSPORT that Frank lacks the courage to impose his tactics.
“I haven’t seen any of it because I don’t read anything,” Frank said. “My press officer tells me what I need to know. When I joined the club, I knew two things: we’d lose games and I’d get criticised. I honestly don’t care what people say. I listen only to those I trust. It’s always easier to comment from the outside.”
Fulham come to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday aiming to worsen Spurs’ poor home form, with just three home wins in 2025. This is unfamiliar territory for Frank, whose Brentford side had a club-record 19 home points at this stage last season.
“That was a journey together where everything clicked,” he said, recalling a front four of Wissa, Mbeumo, Schade and Damsgaard. “They connected perfectly, and that’s what we’re working hard to find here. I’m sure it will come. Hopefully we see signs on Saturday.”
One key player Frank hopes will spark into life is summer signing Xavi Simons. The £51m recruit from RB Leipzig has yet to score, registering just two assists across 16 appearances. He was benched for the Arsenal and PSG matches, and Frank was asked how he had responded.
“Xavi’s been fine. Like many players coming to the Premier League for the first time, it’s never simple,” Frank said. “It’s all part of adapting. Ultimately, selection is about performance. That applies to everyone — Wilson, Mo, Joao, whoever didn’t play. We ask: do you offer enough attacking output? Do you work hard defensively? Can you press with the intensity required? Do you contribute on set pieces? And of course, different games require different qualities.”
Asked whether the Fulham match could be Xavi’s breakout moment — similar to Randal Kolo Muani scoring twice for PSG midweek — Frank agreed.
“It definitely could,” he said. “We’re working out how to break teams down, how to create more, how to get enough goalscorers on the pitch. Two strikers worked in Paris. We know we’re still developing. There might be a middle stage before we get to where we want to be.”
Frank rejects any claims he is a defensive coach.
“Anyone who has watched my teams over the years — even back when I coached under-eights — knows I want to play attacking, front-foot football,” he said. “But there will always be games where it doesn’t work. It didn’t work at Arsenal. That was supposed to be front-footed but we weren’t, so we adjusted. After Sunday I was angry and hurt. In Paris I was irritated, but at least we competed and showed much more of the identity I want.”
