Thomas Frank put on a chipper facade as he led Tottenham Hotspur out for their pre-Champions League training on Monday, but there’s no doubt that the Danish coach was feeling the pressure after losing at home to West Ham United.
14th in the Premier League, Spurs are beginning to lose sight of the European pack, and after finishing on the right side of the dreaded dotted line last year, they can ill-afford another disappointing season.
Frank replaced Ange Postecoglou last summer, and while circumstances have plotted against him, there has been so little to suggest that he is the coach to lead Tottenham forward.
With that in mind, ENIC group know they have a tough choice to make soon, with any more misery sure to sever Frank’s short and unsweet stint at the helm.
The latest on Frank’s future at Spurs
Pressure is mounting, and many feel that the board’s decision to give Frank the looming Borussia Dortmund clash is nothing more than a stay of execution.
The Dane’s win record is, frankly, shameful, and a total breakdown in the relationship between the manager and fanbase does suggest the Lewis family will be required to make a tough call in the coming weeks, especially if Saturday’s trip to Burnley in the Premier League piles more misery on the Londoners.
While the likes of Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola and Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner are both out of contract at the end of the season, Spurs may have their sights trained on a bigger prize.
As per The Independent’s Miguel Delaney, internal talks have been held behind the scenes at N17 as ENIC and Co explore a possible move for Xabi Alonso, who is unattached after parting with Real Madrid earlier this month.
Described as “one of the best managers in the world” by Carlo Ancelotti, the 44-year-old is resting before eyeing a return to management later in 2026, and while his innovative and forward-thinking football would align perfectly with the Tottenham identity, there are concerns that elite European outfits will make moves of their own soon.
How Alonso would improve Spurs
For all the turbulence about Alonso’s short-lived reign at Real Madrid, he did maintain a respectable points-per-game rate, scoring many goals and keeping pace with La Liga leaders Barcelona.
And the Spaniard, one of football’s elite maestros in his playing days, still has plenty of credit in the bank after an incredible title-winning tenure with Bayer Leverkusen, who he led to the Bundesliga title as invincible champions in 2023/24.
Interchangeable and intelligent as a tactician, Alonso is comfortable fielding a three-man defence or a more conventional, yet flexible, 4-3-3, as was often the case at the Santiago Bernabeu.
That latter style could work well for Tottenham, but they would need to ensure a creative spark sits within that central midfield. They have options, and one of the biggest winners could be Xavi Simons, who joined the club from RB Leipzig in a deal worth more than £50m last summer.
Initially, Simons struggled to adapt, though there have been green shoots over the past couple of months, with the Netherlands star, 22, having notched four goal involvements in all competitions since the start of December.
An intelligent playmaker, Simons’ progressiveness on the ball is exactly what this Tottenham side is lacking. He plays within the system, but it isn’t working, and Alonso’s arrival could finally bring out the best of him while giving rise to creative success on the whole.
For example, in La Liga this season, Real Madrid have played more progressive passes than any other team, a clear marker of Alonso’s controlled, forward-flowing brand, having been hailed as a a “genius tactician” by Sky Sports’ Felix Fischer.
|
La Liga 25/26 – Most Progressive Passes |
||
|---|---|---|
|
# |
Club |
Prog. Passes |
|
1 |
Real Madrid |
1027 |
|
2 |
Barcelona |
1021 |
|
3 |
Atletico Madrid |
822 |
|
4 |
Athletic Bilbao |
818 |
|
5 |
Elche |
766 |
|
Data via FBref |
||
A pass is considered progressive if the distance between the starting point and the next touch is at least 10 meters closer to the opponent’s goal or any completed pass into the penalty area.
Tottenham present a contrast there, 13th in the Premier League for progressive passes and lowly 20th for through balls completed (Los Blancos are in the standings there).
This is not a matter of comprehension but of instruction. Frank has not implemented a progressive system, but Simons does hold the skillset to promote such play.
The fact of the matter is that Spurs fans are not asking for much. They just want their team to play on the front foot and dare to do something with the ball when in the danger area.
Simons could hold the answer there. Yes, the young Dutchman has been poor at times this season, but he has hardly moved into a system firing at full throttle.
Even so, the one-time Barcelona youth ranks among the top 10% of positional peers in the Premier League for assists and the top 5% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.
In this, he could thrive under Alonso’s wing. Simons shares with Liverpool star Florian Wirtz an artful eye for a pass, and with a combative, tackle-happy defensive side, Alonso’s appointment might just help things come together for a Tottenham team who need to put all this misery to rights.
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