You’ll have thought issues couldn’t have gotten a lot worse for Thomas Frank after watching his Tottenham aspect fall to an agonising .
It was one other damaging end in a season that has introduced loads of frustration for the Spurs devoted, with their membership now 14th within the Premier League after solely two wins in 12 matches.
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However then got here the picture that added to the stress on Frank.
Earlier than kick‑off on Wednesday night time, he was photographed strolling across the Vitality Stadium with a espresso cup emblazoned with Arsenal branding – an odd alternative in case you are the supervisor of a membership that shares a fierce rivalry with the Gunners and present league leaders.
With the Dane already struggling to win over sad Spurs supporters since changing Europa League-winning Ange Postecoglou in the summertime, it was an incident that invited ridicule and left him underneath extra scrutiny.
“I positively didn’t discover it,” mentioned Frank afterwards. “It will be utterly silly of me to take it if I knew.
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“It is somewhat bit unhappy in soccer that I should be requested about it. I’d by no means do one thing that silly.
“I believe we’re positively going within the unsuitable route if we have to fear about me having a cup with a brand of one other membership.”
BBC Sport understands Frank was handed his customary espresso on his arrival on the stadium by a employees member within the cup which was introduced by Arsenal, who performed at Bournemouth solely 4 days earlier.
Neither Frank nor a employees member noticed the Arsenal crest on the cup till it was too late.
However the unlucky flip of occasions at Bournemouth was too straightforward for followers and critics to latch on to after Spurs did not construct on one other optimistic begin – identical to they did in opposition to Sunderland on the weekend the place they had been held to a 1-1 draw.
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Mathys Tel scored inside 5 minutes to provide Frank’s aspect a dream begin, however Bournemouth hit again to steer via Evanilson and Eli Junior Kroupi.
Joao Palhinha made it 2-2 with 12 minutes left, nevertheless, it was the Cherries who collected the three factors because the departing Antoine Semenyo struck a dramatic winner 5 minutes into added time.
How unhealthy have Spurs been underneath Frank?
Tottenham are 14th within the Premier League after 21 video games – the very same place at this stage final season, earlier than Postecoglou appeared to prioritise the Europa League as an alternative.
They had been eight factors above seventeenth – the place they finally completed – however are solely six above Nottingham Forest in that place now.
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Solely 4 groups have had fewer pictures this season than Spurs, though they’ve been medical, with their 30 targets higher than eight different groups.
In addition they rank sixteenth for touches within the opposition field, however high one other undesirable stat – errors resulting in pictures (25).
And their newest defeat will additional damage Frank, whose future has come into query.
“That may be very, very tough, actually painful,” he advised Sky Sports activities.
“I believe the gamers put in all the pieces. To concede a objective 5 minutes into added time is simply so painful. It’s totally, very onerous to take.”
“Frank appears to be like shattered,” former Newcastle and Manchester Metropolis goalkeeper Shay Given advised BBC Radio 5 Dwell.
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“Luggage underneath his eyes, he appears to be like careworn – that’s what administration does to those guys.
“He cannot go residence and put his head on the pillow and get an excellent eight hours of sleep, he might be tossing and turning all night time, pondering of the subsequent coaching session, the subsequent recreation.”
‘Followers are damage and it is completely pure’
Tottenham followers have made their frustrations clear on a number of events this season.
They chanted “boring, boring Tottenham” in the course of the goalless draw in opposition to Frank’s former aspect Brentford final week, whereas the gamers had been additionally booed off after the Sunderland draw.
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And after the ultimate whistle at Bournemouth, Palhinha and defender Micky van de Ven exchanged phrases with the travelling Tottenham devoted, following additional jeers and feedback aimed on the staff.
Full-back Pedro Porro additionally needed to be talked into stopping an argument with the supporters by goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.
“I believe the travelling followers had been wonderful and so they supported us all through the sport,” mentioned Frank.
“The gamers are annoyed, I am annoyed.
“We’re all damage, the followers are damage. That is completely pure. That is why soccer is emotional. It is simply very painful for everybody concerned with Tottenham.”
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Midfielder Palhinha, who’s on a season-long mortgage from Bayern Munich and scored a shocking overhead kick in opposition to the Cherries, added: “The followers are displaying their frustration and we perceive that.
“We are attempting to get victories we must always deserve for my part. It is powerful to talk quite a bit about momentum as a result of whenever you lose it simply seems like phrases.
“I simply wish to say maintain supporting as a result of the victories will come. It is frustration as I mentioned. I felt we had been the very best staff on the pitch.”
Richarlison hit the woodwork and Van de Ven was denied by a superb Djordje Petrovic cease, however the truth is Spurs are usually having fewer pictures than ever underneath Frank.
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Their 16 possibilities in opposition to the Cherries took their season common for pictures per Premier League recreation as much as 10.2 – however that’s nonetheless their lowest common than in any season on document from 1997-98.
Regardless of ending simply exterior the relegation zone within the earlier marketing campaign, their common was 13.
“We had been the one staff on the pitch that needed to win the sport,” mentioned Palhinha.
“Soccer is like that. Tomorrow is one other day. We have to maintain pushing. We’ve got been working onerous to get wins.
“At this time and tomorrow in all probability the hangover goes to be actually powerful, however in soccer we can’t assume an excessive amount of about what occurred.”
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“To lose within the final minute like they did, they’ll really feel onerous accomplished by,” former England midfielder Danny Murphy advised BBC Sport.
“There are video games Tottenham have misplaced this season the place they’ve performed poorly and deserved to lose. At this time was a lot better, however I do not know what solace that’s for the Tottenham supporters for the time being.”
It is not going to get simpler for Frank or Spurs, with an FA Cup third-round tie in opposition to in-form Aston Villa on Saturday earlier than a house derby in opposition to relegation-threatened West Ham within the league on 17 January.