£30m Tottenham Hotspur F.C. star reveals Thomas Frank “didn’t like him.”

Tottenham Hotspur F.C. forward Mathys Tel revealed on Monday that he had a difficult relationship with former Spurs manager Thomas Frank, claiming the coach “didn’t like him” after disagreements about his role in the team.

Frank was dismissed last month after only eight months in charge, following a poor run in the Premier League where Tottenham managed just two wins in 17 matches, leaving them only five points above the relegation zone.

However, things have not improved since Igor Tudor took over on an interim basis. The Croatian lost his first three games in charge, and Spurs now sit just one point above the bottom three, with confidence at the club continuing to decline.

Club officials had hoped a managerial change would spark a turnaround, but results and performances have arguably deteriorated further, leaving the north London side struggling for belief.

Despite the team’s problems, Tel has been one of the few bright spots in recent weeks alongside young midfielder Archie Gray, at a time when several senior players have failed to deliver when the team needed them most.

Tel Opens Up About Issues With Frank

As Tel prepares for Tottenham’s UEFA Champions League knockout clash against Atlético Madrid in the Spanish capital, he spoke openly in an interview about his time under Frank.

The French forward, who reportedly cost around £30 million, received limited playing time under the Danish manager before his dismissal. At one point, he was even excluded from the club’s Champions League squad before being reinstated ahead of a match against SK Slavia Prague in December.

Tel admitted the relationship with Frank was strained because they disagreed about his position and involvement in the team. He explained that the manager did not attempt to resolve the situation, which left him puzzled about why he was frequently left on the bench despite believing he could contribute more.

Tel Hoping for Bigger Role

Although Tel’s performances have sometimes lacked consistency in terms of goals and end product, his work ethic and commitment have stood out whenever he has played for Tottenham.

Those qualities — along with his determination — could be exactly what Spurs need as they try to move away from the relegation battle.

So far, his opportunities under Tudor have also been limited, with the forward making two substitute appearances before finally playing the full 90 minutes in last week’s defeat to Crystal Palace F.C..

That selection was partly due to injuries within the squad, but Tel will hope it signals the start of a more important role under the new coach — and that he will avoid the same frustrations he experienced during Frank’s time in charge. ⚽