Tottenham Hotspur’s new head coach Thomas Frank faced his first major test—and setback—on the European stage after his side was dismantled 4–0 by Bayern Munich in a pre-season friendly. While the result doesn’t carry competitive consequences, it served as a sobering reminder of the gap between Spurs and Europe’s elite, particularly with the UEFA Super Cup clash against PSG looming just days away.
After the final whistle in Munich, Frank stepped up to deliver a calm yet candid assessment of the performance. The Danish manager did not shy away from pointing out the deficiencies in his team’s display, particularly the lack of energy and sharpness that allowed Bayern to dominate from start to finish.
“We were obviously playing a very good team tonight. Bayern in my opinion are one of the teams that probably are favourites to win the Champions League,” Frank stated. “They hit a good level, we didn’t hit a good level—that’s a bad combination. But we will definitely learn from this one.”
Frank’s honesty reflected his commitment to building Spurs into a side capable of competing with the best. However, he admitted that the team looked off the pace physically and tactically. With the German champions exploiting every weakness, Tottenham’s defensive structure fell apart under pressure. Bayern’s pressing, passing combinations, and clinical finishing left Spurs chasing shadows.
Despite the heavy loss, Frank remained composed and constructive in his response. He acknowledged that preseason is not just about results, but about evaluation and refinement—both of players and system. “I definitely got some answers that we will look into,” he added. “We will calmly reflect on it after the game now and look through it.”
More worryingly, Frank noted a concerning lack of energy from his players—a critical red flag with a major fixture just around the corner. “It seems like we lacked some energy somehow which we need to find—no team can play without that energy,” he warned. With Tottenham set to face Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup, finding that energy and correcting course is now an urgent priority.
Still, Frank remains optimistic about the team’s prospects. He stressed that the Bayern game was a “negative performance” in the context of an otherwise “positive” pre-season. Spurs had shown promising flashes in previous games against Arsenal and Newcastle, and Frank believes those glimpses of quality prove his team is on the right track—though not yet at the level of consistency he demands.
“As a whole, from the start to now, I think overall it’s positive,” Frank said. “There have been some really positive performances… then it’s about that consistency in the team and the principles we want to get into the players.”
With six days before their Super Cup showdown, Frank sees an opportunity to regroup. Unlike the last two weeks of constant travel and training disruptions, Spurs now have a “normal week” to prepare. Frank believes proper rest, focused sessions, and recovery time will help the players reset both mentally and physically.
“We will 100 per cent be ready for that game [against PSG], I’m not in doubt about that,” he affirmed.
For Tottenham, the Bayern defeat may serve as a timely reality check. Under Frank’s leadership, the club has a new identity in the making—but time and patience will be essential. As pre-season winds down and competitive action approaches, Spurs must show resilience, adapt quickly, and learn from their missteps if they are to match the ambitions of their new coach and loyal supporters.
