Frank delighted with Spurs’ perfect start: “Win, clean sheet, goals - I couldn’t ask for more”

Thomas Frank: I’m happy with the win, clean sheet, and the goals

Thomas Frank’s Premier League reign at Tottenham Hotspur could hardly have asked for a brighter beginning.

Under the north London sunshine, his side delivered the kind of performance that checked all the boxes: goals to delight the home crowd, a defensive display to secure a clean sheet, and a statement of intent that Spurs are ready to turn promise into consistency this season.

For the new head coach, it was the manner of the response that meant the most. Spurs had poured their energy into the UEFA Super Cup clash with Paris Saint-Germain earlier in the week, only to see their efforts undone in a dramatic penalty shootout. Yet, rather than linger on that disappointment, Tottenham turned the page with style against Burnley.

“Relieved, happy,” Frank admitted after the final whistle, as the club's official platform. “In life and football, you can take nothing for granted. We know we’re playing Burnley at home, it’s a ‘must win’ game on paper, but we also know it’s not that easy. It’s football.

Spurs Forward Richarlison PL Stats vs Burnley - Think Football Ideas

“I’m happy with the win, happy with the clean sheet, happy with the goals. It was a short turnaround after a big disappointment, and the players were ready. Big credit to the medical and performance department for turning it around at such short notice.”

The goals were led, of course, by Richarlison. The Brazilian striker, who had endured a testing campaign last season, produced two finishes of real quality, and one of them was an acrobatic volley that had the crowd on its feet.

His partnership with Mohammed Kudus, making his league debut, already looks a promising thread in Tottenham’s attacking fabric. When Brennan Johnson added a third, released by a clever Pape Matar Sarr pass, Spurs had not only wrapped up the points but also underlined their cutting edge.

Frank, however, was keen to highlight the broader story: the entire squad’s contribution. “I said to Brennan, he had such a good season last season, scored 18 goals across all competitions.

“I didn’t pick him for the UEFA Super Cup, he didn’t come on, also disappointing, but today he’s ready to start, and Brennan always scores! That’s a fantastic thing, to be ready. Also, the two young midfielders, Lucas and Archie Gray, really pleased with their performance as well. We need the squad. Hopefully, we’ll play 60-plus games. That’s the dream. If we do that, we’ll need the squad.”

That trust in youth was visible throughout the afternoon. Lucas Bergvall and Gray, two teenagers thrown into central midfield, handled their responsibilities with poise. Their composure allowed Spurs to maintain control of possession and dictate tempo, belying their inexperience on a big stage.

“It’s easy to say with a smile when we win,” Frank reflected. “I trust the players. Hopefully I’ll be consistent in that message. That’s my plan. Even if we’d lost, I would have done that with the best intentions. I definitely trust them.

“It was also about looking into the squad. It was a big effort on Wednesday night. Joao Palhinha also had a shorter pre-season, that played into the equation, and both Archie, Lucas and Pape have been exceptional.”

There were other moments to savour as well. The reception Mathys Tel received from the supporters did not go unnoticed by the head coach. “I’m so happy with that,” Frank said. “I said yesterday that true Spurs fans are behind him, and they showed that today. That was another big moment.”