Spurs vs FC Copenhagen | Every word of Thomas Frank and Guglielmo Vicario’s pre-match press conference

Do you have any theories why it’s so difficult for the team to play at home?

Thomas: “Of course, it’s a relatively small sample for me to look into, if I’m honest. So, I think first and foremost, we need to work very hard on keep adding performances, keep adding layers, keep improving, work very hard on the training pitch, in meeting rooms and one-to-one actions. I see a good improvement in the team in general. Of course, we’re coming off the back of a bad performance. That’s a big flashing light right now. So, everyone has a little bit of a struggle to look past that and look at some of the very good performances we’ve had this year as well. I also think it’s fair to say that we’re coming off the back of, in many ways, a fantastic season, but also a tough season. If anyone had said that we now have been 17 points after 10 games unbeaten in the Champions League, I don’t know what we are – fifth? It doesn’t matter where we are now. It’s where we are at the end of the season. Everything is definitely not perfect, but there is a decent foundation. Then it’s up to us to add layers. I think everyone would have taken that situation where we are now in terms of 22 defeats last year and finished 17th. The Europa League is fantastic, wow, but the Champions League is different. I just want to get the point across. I think the fans were fantastic the first 30 minutes of the game on Saturday night. I think the noise was incredible and that carried us forward. It seems there was a little bit of a turning point when we conceded the goal. We all get a little bit frustrated, which is natural. I think it’s more than fair because we are in the performance business and if we can’t deal with the pressure, deal with the negativity and the criticism, we shouldn’t sit here. Probably Vic and I, you play a little bit more football than me, but we’re in the football world because we love the game. We love to be part of something. We love to be part of the team. It’s nice with the big occasions. It’s not that, but we play because we love football. We’ve been growing and then we have the big crowds. I think the fans were fantastic in the first 30 minutes. After the game, if we performed badly and on top of that lost the game, it’s more than fair enough to boo us. During the game, we need a little bit of help, especially when it’s not going our way. They can be the turning point. We were down 1-0 in the last 15 minutes. They could carry us over the line (if) we got a little bit of an unfair 1-1. What a feeling! That point could be the difference in the long season.”

Guglielmo: “To be fair, I don’t know which is the difference. Probably in football, everything is related to a game. Of course, we didn’t perform at our best and we lost against a London team. It’s probably seen in a different perspective. I think we can change things quickly, starting from tomorrow. Also, our record in European competition playing at home is a big one. I don’t remember how many – fingers crossed – games we didn’t lose at home (last home defeat in Europe was 2020). We have a big opportunity to turn this track in another way. Tomorrow is the best chance to try to do it.”

If the home form continues to be an issue, would you consider training at the stadium?

Thomas: “Maybe. I haven’t thought about it. I’m always listening to good suggestions.”

On Lucas, is there a protocol that means he has to miss a certain number of games?

Thomas: “Yes, he’s out for the next two games.”

On home form, do you feel there is a weight of pressure from a crowd that demands a certain style, or is it more about teams that come set up to frustrate?

Thomas: “I think there are different types of games. Sometimes, also because everything is accumulating or adding a little bit up, so the number you gain is not a fantastic number. We haven’t won at home the last whatever games in the Premier League. Not too many. Completely different games. Some teams are very difficult to play against in that environment. Others are a little bit easier. Everything is difficult but, for example, Villa, I think very good competitive performance. Unfortunately, we lost. It just went the wrong way. We could easily have won 1-0. I think Saturday night is an accumulation of a lot of things – a big London derby, always hope we can beat them, we haven’t won against them for a long time and that’s just added a bit.”

Is it case closed in terms of Spence and van de Var, or will there be further repercussions?

Thomas: “100% (closed). I hope it’s very clear what I said before.”

There is a narrative that you’re a defensive coach, a pragmatist – are you surprised by that given your record with Brentford?

Thomas: “I think it all depends on the narrative. So, whose narrative is that? Is that a journalist or is it a few fans? I guess we have quite a few fans out there. So, I guess the one who writes on social media. I’m not on social media. I’m very aware that we haven’t been free floating in some games. I think there’s been definitely moments where it’s been quite good. So, something we work very hard on every single day. I think it’s fair to say that every team I’ve managed, we’ve been able to score a lot of goals. Also a Brentford team with, how can you say, less on the paper, lesser players. Creating a lot of top goalscorers. I’m convinced we’ll do the same again here. I also think it’s fair to say that we are working very hard on it. We are having players that do everything they can. It’s my job together with the coaches to make sure they get good relations and good structure and be confident.”

Clubs will lose players to the African Cup of Nations – is that fair?

Thomas: “I think it is what it is. It was the Club World Cup in the summer. It was the Africa Cup of Nations. Most of the time it has been in December, January. We need to deal with it and we will. That’s my take on it.”

How are you finding the spotlight at Tottenham and the extreme nature of the reactions to performances?

Thomas: “Of course, I sense there is a tiny bit more attention to everything, but that was the one thing I was 1,000% sure of that would happen. That would be different. Everything else has been the same – 20 fantastic players and people that want to work in the same direction. A little bit tactical, technical, coaching, all that. This (media) is the biggest difference. I’m very, very happy I’m not on social media. The only reason I sense there can be something with fans or creativity, it’s a lot of questions from the press conferences. It is what it is. It’s part of it. No problem.”

To follow up, do you have to protect your players, especially the younger ones, from getting their heads buried in their phones and social media?

Thomas: “I think that’s a big… sometimes I like to speak more about how much they do it. I think some of the players are very good at it, some of them probably could be a little bit better. I think it’s a bit down to individual. I also think some of it also… I like to say I’m still young, but it’s another generation. They deal with it in another way than us. If I should start dealing with it, I think I’ll deal with it less good than them.”