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Under-pressure Frank 'feeling the trust' in toughest spell as Tottenham manager

Sport

Under-pressure Frank 'feeling the trust' in toughest spell as Tottenham manager
Sport

Sport

Under-pressure Frank 'feeling the trust' in toughest spell as Tottenham manager

2026-01-20 00:51 Last Updated At:01:10

Under-pressure Tottenham manager Thomas Frank believes he retains the faith of the club's board after speculation about his future following a string of bad results in a troubled season.

Frank was taunted in chants by Tottenham’s own fans during Saturday’s 2-1 home loss to West Ham that left his team in 14th place in the Premier League and with just one win in its last eight games in all competitions.

A day before facing Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, the Danish coach said in a news conference Monday that he'd had lunch with leading figures at the club, including CEO Vinai Venkatesham.

“I have just been feeling the trust along the way,” said Frank, adding that the current scrutiny was simply “part of the media circus.”

Frank said he had “no doubt” he could win back the support of disgruntled fans who called for his departure during the West Ham game and asked for “resilience” in tough times.

“As I have said many times, as long as we win football matches and make sure we win enough of them, then everyone will support us,” Frank said on the BBC. “It is not about me. It is about supporting each other, supporting the team, the players.”

Frank was hired during the offseason, leaving Brentford after nearly a decade to become the replacement for Ange Postecoglou at Spurs. They won the Europa League under Postecoglou to end a 17-year trophy drought but finished in 17th place in the Premier League last season.

Frank was supposed to bring more solidity and tactical discipline to the team. Yet, for many fans, the chaos of Postecoglou's reign has been replaced by lethargy and a lack of creativity under Frank.

While Tottenham is decently placed in 11th in the 36-club Champions League standings, the team is out of both domestic cups and has won only seven of its 22 Premier League games. Its home form is particularly poor, with six defeats in 11 league matches at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium already.

“If your back is against the wall, you fight,” Frank said. “I am energetic and I fight. It is not about me, we need to win football matches and we need to do that together.”

Frank said Tottenham would have just 11 senior outfield players available against Dortmund because of injuries or suspensions.

“We probably have three players that need to push massively to get through 90 minutes physically,” Frank added.

“We need everyone to support us from minute one. Especially the team, especially the players. If we get that support, anything can happen. Magic can happen.”

Tottenham has removed French striker Mathys Tel from its Champions League squad to accommodate the return of fit-again Dominic Solanke.

“It was not a nice decision to have to make, but unfortunately that is football,” Frank said.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United in London, Saturday Jan. 17, 2026. (John Walton/PA via AP)

Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United in London, Saturday Jan. 17, 2026. (John Walton/PA via AP)

Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank gestures during a press conference in London, Monday Jan. 19, 2026, one day ahead of their Champions League soccer match against Borussia Dortmund. (Bradley Collyer/PA via AP)

Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank gestures during a press conference in London, Monday Jan. 19, 2026, one day ahead of their Champions League soccer match against Borussia Dortmund. (Bradley Collyer/PA via AP)

Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank looks on during a training session in London, Monday Jan. 19, 2026, one day ahead of their Champions League soccer match against Borussia Dortmund. (Bradley Collyer/PA via AP)

Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank looks on during a training session in London, Monday Jan. 19, 2026, one day ahead of their Champions League soccer match against Borussia Dortmund. (Bradley Collyer/PA via AP)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic had 51 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, LeBron James added 18 points in his return after missing three games because of injuries and the Los Angeles Lakers used a strong third quarter to defeat the Chicago Bulls 142-130 on Thursday night.

Doncic scored 50 points for the first time as a Laker following the blockbuster trade that sent him from Dallas to Los Angeles in February 2025. It was Doncic’s 13th 40-point game in 82 appearances for Los Angeles, moving into ninth in franchise history.

Austin Reaves chipped in with 30 points, Deandre Ayton had 23 points and 10 rebounds for his 20th double-double of the season, and the Lakers’ four-game winning streak is their longest since running off seven in a row Nov. 14-30.

Los Angeles moved ahead of the idle Houston Rockets into third place in the Western Conference.

Josh Giddey scored 27 points and Matas Buzelis had 22 for the short-handed Bulls, who have alternated wins and losses over their past six games following 11 straight losses in February.

James started off sluggish after being sidelined by a right hip contusion and arthritis in his left foot, picking up his only points of the first half on a layup and free throw for a three-point play with 54 seconds remaining. The sequence sparked James, 41, and he made all five of his shots from the field in the third quarter to finish with 11 points in the period.

Giddey and Buzelis combined to go 10 for 20 from 3-point range, finding their shot in the second quarter and keeping the Bulls in striking distance for most of the game. Chicago ended up 15 for 36 from deep.

Bulls: Visit the Clippers on Friday.

Lakers: Host the Nuggets on Saturday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) dunks against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) dunks against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James shoots a free throw during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James shoots a free throw during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) goes to the basket against the Chicago Bulls during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) goes to the basket against the Chicago Bulls during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (3) goes to the basket against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (3) goes to the basket against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) is defended during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) is defended during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) is defended by Chicago Bulls forward Jalen Smith, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) is defended by Chicago Bulls forward Jalen Smith, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

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