New Tottenham manager Thomas Frank calls for brave and aggressive approach

LONDON – New Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank said that he wants his team to embody the club’s motto “to dare is to do” by playing brave, aggressive, attacking football, as he laid out his vision at his first press conference on July 18.

Speaking ahead of the July 19 friendly against Reading, the Dane, who succeeded Ange Postecoglou in June, underlined his commitment to a high-intensity style rooted in courage and ambition. “I’m very clear in my principles. I want to see the team be brave, aggressive and attack. Brave is linked to ‘dare is to do’,” he told reporters.

“If you are not brave, it is very difficult to achieve anything. Being aggressive is very important and, of course, we need to attack.”

The 51-year-old made a strong impression during his seven-year tenure at Brentford, where he built an attacking side who consistently exceeded expectations after earning promotion to the English Premier League through the 2021 play-offs.

Under Frank, Brentford have completed four seasons in the English top flight, finishing 13th, ninth, 16th, and 10th. In their most recent campaign, they scored 66 goals – more than all but four other teams. “It was very difficult (to leave Brentford) and also very easy. I’m a person that goes all in. I got attached and had great relationships there,” he added. “But I also felt maybe it was time to challenge myself, and when a club with the magnitude of Tottenham come, I wanted to be a part of it.”

He also had empathetic words for his Australian predecessor Postecoglou, whom the club dismissed despite leading them to their first major trophy in 17 years with victory in the Europa League final. “First and foremost, Ange will forever be a legend here at Tottenham. One of only three who have won a European trophy here and the first in 41 years,” Frank said.

“I think it was extremely positive that they won (Europa League). The first aim is that we need to be able to compete in all four competitions. That has to be the aim. I think 2019 was the last time they managed to compete in different competitions.”

Asked whether the club's frequent changes in the dugout were a concern, Frank – Spurs' fifth full-time manager in six years – said he embraced the risk. “I like to challenge myself. I’ve never been sacked before so that is one of the reasons why I took the job, so I can get a little bit more risk into my daily life,” he added.

“Coming to a big club, there is pressure. We need to perform because it is ‘we’, it is me, the staff, the players. We need to do that together.

“I like the ambition and everything I do, every decision I made so far, everything, is for the long term. It is not about surviving one game, or one year, or what is the average 18 months? No. It is for the long run.” REUTERS