Thomas Frank has now revealed the reason behind some of the big calls he made when naming Tottenham Hotspur’s Champions League squad for the league phase.
Tottenham Hotspur are back in the UEFA Champions League after last season’s triumph in Bilbao, which sealed a return to Europe’s top table in style.
Despite Ange Postecoglou guiding Spurs to Europa League glory, his departure paved the way for Thomas Frank, who has now taken charge of Tottenham and will lead the north London club in Europe for the first time under his management.
As Frank steps into the competition, he has already been faced with difficult calls, with his maiden Champions League squad selection demanding tough decisions that left notable players excluded.
Tottenham boss Thomas Frank explains Champions League squad decision
Spurs’ lack of club-trained players has resulted in Frank’s Champions League squad being trimmed from 25 to 22, meaning there was no space for several high-profile names.
James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Mathys Tel, Kota Takai, Yves Bissouma and Radu Dragusin were all left out of the squad, and Frank has now spoken openly about the reasoning behind those omissions.
He said (Tottenham official): “That was an extremely difficult decision. I also think in many ways it was a bit unfair. The UEFA lists are not big enough. The load is getting more and more on the players. We need a bigger squad. I cannot understand why we need to limit ourselves.
“I like the idea of club-trained players by the way. I needed to name it before I really knew ‘Matty’ [Mathys Tel]. I think the way he handled it was extremely mature. It was really impressive.”
What Tel said about his omission from Spurs’ Champions League squad
Of the six players excluded, five were understandable choices, given that four are carrying injuries and Yves Bissouma’s future at Tottenham remains uncertain.
However, the absence of Mathys Tel has created more discussion amongst fans, with his omission surprising many.
Speaking about the decision, Tel made clear that missing out was painful, yet he emphasised his determination to remain positive.
He said: “It is clear that when you are not on a squad, it definitely hurts, but I am someone who stays pretty positive, no matter the situation, because I think I have worked a lot on my mental side, so today it is definitely a disappointment; I would have liked to be there.
“But the coach’s choice is the coach’s choice; we can only respect it, and we will work to come back in the best possible way.”
The France Under-21 international also revealed that Frank spoke to him directly before the decision was made public, and he praised the respectful manner in which the manager dealt with the situation.
He added: “Quite simply, with respect. He called me, he told me his choice, and afterwards you saw the list appear on social media.”