Thomas Frank faces a must-win clash against West Ham as pressure mounts.
Thomas Frank faces the most crucial match of his Tottenham tenure this Saturday.
A home defeat to relegation-threatened London rivals West Ham—currently 18th and enduring a 10-game Premier League winless streak—would be almost unthinkable for Frank. With West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo also under intense scrutiny, Sky Sports’ Tim Sherwood has dubbed the clash an “El Sackico.”
However, Frank’s Thursday press conference didn’t suggest his job would be at risk if Spurs lost. In fact, he seemed buoyed by recent developments, giving the impression he may have been assured of at least a few more games—or possibly until the end of the season—to turn things around. The press conference had a light, confident tone, reminiscent of the early-season optimism in August or September. Frank spoke at length, smiled throughout, and exuded defiance—a reflection of a positive week leading up to the critical match.
Wednesday brought a major boost with the arrival of Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid for £34m. The following day, Tottenham announced two more significant changes: John Heitinga joined as assistant first-team coach, and Carlos Raphael “Rafi” Moersen was appointed director of football operations in a newly created role. Importantly, Rafi is not replacing Fabio Paratici, whose departure at the end of the January transfer window was confirmed on Wednesday. He will instead work alongside sporting director Johan Lange as part of what Spurs describe as a modern, high-performance football structure.
Amid these shifts, Frank will hope for further change on Saturday—the mood of the fans. After last Saturday’s FA Cup third-round home defeat to Aston Villa, boos echoed around the stadium. That loss marked Tottenham’s seventh defeat in their last 13 matches, with Frank’s side yet to win in 2026. Fan frustration has been a recurring theme: some are unhappy with Frank’s defensive style, others with his press conference comments, and the Arsenal cup blunder at Bournemouth hasn’t helped. Protests are reportedly planned ahead of Saturday, though Gallagher’s signing could influence participation.
If Spurs falter against a struggling London rival, the atmosphere at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium could turn toxic. Owners the Lewis family and CEO Vinai Venkatesham will be present, and visible dissatisfaction could raise serious concerns. Frank knows that only a win with attacking intent will satisfy critics.
Despite the pressure, there is sympathy for Frank, who is dealing with a squad that many feel is not up to standard. If Tottenham’s squad were dismantled today, arguably only Micky van de Ven—and perhaps Cristian Romero—would move to a top club like Real Madrid or Barcelona. Still, some fans believe the squad should be performing better than a 14th-place team. Complicating matters, key players James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, and Dominic Solanke have been absent, with only Solanke recently returning. Off the pitch, significant changes—including Daniel Levy’s shock exit in September—have also affected the environment around Frank.
This week highlights a new era at Tottenham, and Frank may deserve a little leeway amid these sweeping changes. What he can control, however, is Tottenham’s style of play. A more free-flowing, attacking approach could help him turn the tide. Ultimately, though, Frank’s focus will be squarely on Saturday: a victory in what feels like a win-or-bust match.