Thomas Frank has called for improved support from the crowd at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following a disappointing 1-0 defeat against Chelsea on March 15, 2024. The manager revealed that defenders Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence approached him to apologise for their reactions after the final whistle, where they expressed their frustration at the booing from the home fans.
After João Pedro scored in the 34th minute, the atmosphere turned sour, with supporters expressing their discontent at half-time and again at full-time. Van de Ven and Spence were visibly upset, heading straight for the tunnel and bypassing Frank’s attempts to encourage them to acknowledge the fans in the South Stand. This incident followed a worrying trend for Spurs, who have only secured one victory in their last five home league matches, losing three in the process.
Since the stadium opened in 2019, Tottenham has suffered a staggering 41 home defeats across all competitions, a statistic that stands in stark contrast to their fierce rivals, Arsenal, who have lost 48 league matches at the Emirates Stadium since its opening in 2006. Frank, reflecting on the situation, noted that Van de Ven and Spence had come to see him separately the following day to express their regret about their actions during the match.
As the team prepares for their upcoming Champions League clash against Copenhagen, Frank acknowledged the team’s poor performance against Chelsea, admitting that the boos were warranted. Yet, he emphasised the need for a more positive atmosphere during matches. He pointed out that the crowd had been supportive in the first 30 minutes but became frustrated after the team conceded a goal.
“I want to get the point across that the fans were fantastic in the first 30 minutes,” Frank stated. “It seems there was a little bit of a turning point when we conceded the goal, where we all get a little bit frustrated, which is natural. After the game, if we perform badly and lose, it’s fair enough that they boo us. But during the game, we need a little bit of help.”
Frank highlighted the potential impact the fans could have on the outcome of games, noting that a supportive atmosphere could transform a tight match. “Imagine if they carry us over the line and we got a little bit of an unfair 1-1. What a feeling! That point can be the difference in a long season,” he added.
The match also saw an incident involving goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who intervened to protect teammate Lucas Bergvall from an upset supporter. Vicario remarked on the nature of fan behaviour, stating, “In every environment, there are very good people and some bad people. I had to protect him because he was a little bit emotional at that time.”
Regarding the apologies from Van de Ven and Spence, Frank expressed his appreciation, saying, “They came into my office unprompted and just said: ‘We want to say sorry for the situation.’ It means that they care about the team, the club, and, in this case, me.”
As for Bergvall, he is currently following a 12-day concussion protocol after being substituted during the Chelsea match, which means he will miss the upcoming games against Copenhagen and Manchester United.
Despite the challenges at home, Frank urged fans to maintain perspective. Spurs currently sit fifth in the league with 17 points after ten matches, a notable improvement from last season when they finished 17th with 22 league defeats. They remain unbeaten in their three Champions League matches this season, which Frank highlighted as a positive sign.
“If anyone would have said that we would have 17 points after ten games, fifth place, and unbeaten in the Champions League, I think everyone would have taken where we are now,” he concluded. While acknowledging the difficulties at home, he emphasized the need to build a solid foundation for the future.
