Pressure mounts on Frank as Spurs seek lift

UNDER PRESSURE: Under-fire Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is well aware of the need to win over the club’s disgruntled fans and knows victories are the key. Picture: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire.

Under-fire Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is well aware of the need to win over the club’s disgruntled fans and knows victories are the key.

Spurs host a side on Saturday whose head coach is equally feeling the heat in Nuno Espírito Santo's relegation-threatened West Ham.

Frank’s debut campaign has been littered with setbacks, from his recent gaffe of drinking from a coffee cup which carried the badge of rivals Arsenal, to his criticism of Tottenham fans for their reaction to a mistake by Guglielmo Vicario in November, to a lack of attacking flair.

Results since a bright start have also been below expectations, albeit amid a host of injury problems, with a run of only five wins in 20 matches and seven defeats from 13.

Fan group Change for Tottenham will protest before West Ham's visit, but Frank’s future looks secure for now, with chief executive Vinai Venkatesham firmly behind the Danish coach, who this week welcomed Conor Gallagher's arrival in a £34.7million (€40m) deal.

“Of course it’s important, it’s very important (because) connecting is key,” said Frank, whose side are 14th in the Premier League.

“I think I’m quite good at connecting with people, actually, so that’s one thing, but I also know in football there is one way of connecting and that is winning.

“So, when we start winning enough and we also start creating even more chances than we have done, which I’m not in doubt of - there is sign in the right direction of that - then I am quite convinced we will connect better and better. I’m not in doubt of that.

“I have no problem connecting with the fans. Every fan I meet, every fan that has approached me is lovely, open-minded, positive. I know it’s not as easy to connect after a game where you lose and don’t play that well.

“All the interaction I’ve had with Spurs fans has been top, I cannot praise them enough. I know they are super, super important for us. The thing we like to create together is an unbelievable fortress at home."

The departure of Daniel Levy in September has seen the Lewis family trust, which run Spurs’ majority shareholder ENIC, put its faith in Venkatesham, who holds responsibility for the day-to-day running of the club.

Venkatesham’s experience with Mikel Arteta’s difficult first 12 months at Arsenal are understood to have influenced his way of thinking and earned Frank time, but Arteta did win the FA Cup and boasted a stronger record of wins after 31 matches.

With only 11 victories in Frank’s 31-game tenure, improved results must follow before a difficult February, but Gallagher’s arrival and the appointment of John Heitinga as first-team assistant coach have shown the club are behind him.

Frank added: “I think it’s a very good sign of it. We know January is a tricky window to sign a quality player like Conor, I think it’s a great sign of that (the backing).

"Also to sign John Heitinga, who I think is a very skilful coach. That he believes in the project and the vision from me, from the club, in a moment where from the outside doesn’t look as smooth.

"From the inside looks a little bit more positive, but of course I’m very aware that we need even more consistent performances and better results.”