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MAN UTD POISED FOR EUROPEAN ADVANTAGE, THOMAS FRANK SHARES INSIGHT

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank admits Man Utd have a key top-four advantage due to no European football. He also called this the "most competitive" Premier League season he's seen.

Man Utd poised for European advantage, Thomas Frank shares insight
Thomas Frank says Man Utd hold advantage in Champions League battle - IMAGO/NurPhoto

In the "most competitive" Premier League, Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank believes Manchester United has a significant edge in the fight for Champions League qualifying.

Spurs will play Man United at midday on Saturday in a replay of the Europa League final that took place in Bilbao in May.

Despite their worst-ever Premier League finish, Tottenham won their first trophy in 17 years under Frank's predecessor, Ange Postecoglou, thanks to a goal by Brennan Johnson in the first half. They also guaranteed a spot in this season's Champions League.

Spurs and Manchester United are currently sixth and eighth in the league with 17 points after 10 games, respectively, as both teams have improved this time around.

However, former Brentford manager Frank recognised that Ruben Amorim's team's exclusion from Europe will help their top-four challenge, and he believes the Premier League is the most competitive he can recall, especially with Sunderland and Bournemouth presently in the top five.

"It is definitely a benefit," Frank emphasised.

"We want to be able to compete in both because that is where we want to be," I stated at the outset.

"We must be able to compete in the Champions League while maintaining our league performance.

"There are no two ways about it; it is for the fans, the prestige, the money, everything, our goals, and what we hope to accomplish, but having a week to get ready for a game and feel fresh is significant!

"Overall, I believe that this season's Premier League is the most competitive I have ever seen. I have been here for five years.

"The teams do not really interact. As for the other games, I overheard (Arne) Slot discuss the Aston Villa game, the narrow margins in that game as well, the shift in momentum in games, and how fiercely competitive it is.

"I believe that the conventional big six have emerged in the previous two years; Newcastle is in the running for a top seven, and Villa is up there, so that is eight all at once."

Then some teams have performed exceptionally well. Brighton and Bournemouth are also involved, so the competition is fierce.

"Then, when you want to be up there, playing in Europe and competing in the league, it is just a different beast."

Despite only losing four league games the previous season, Arsenal went on a £250 million summer shopping binge because squad depth is essential to being able to compete on numerous fronts.

Mohammed Kudus, Joao Palhinha, Xavi Simons, and Randal Kolo Muani are the four important players Tottenham acquired during the first transfer window under Frank, but they are still hampered by injury.

Due to a persistent ankle problem that has prevented Dominic Solanke from playing for Spurs since August 23, Frank raised doubts about his chances of returning in 2025, even though he underwent minor surgery at the beginning of October.

"I do hope so," Frank responded when asked if he would play before 2026.

"Let us watch what occurs after the international break," I would advise. We continue to make progress. So far, it is on track.

BRUNO SALTOR OFFICIALLY JOINS TOTTENHAM AS ASSISTANT COACH FOR THE NORTH LONDON DERBY

Tottenham appoints Bruno Saltor! Discover the new coaching team under Igor Tudor and the departures following Thomas Frank's exit.

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Tottenham Confirm Bruno Saltor as Assistant Coach Under Igor Tudor

Tottenham Hotspur just shook up their coaching staff, bringing in Bruno Saltor, a guy who’s worked with Chelsea and West Ham in the past.

Saltor’s stepping in alongside interim boss Igor Tudor until the season wraps up. Spurs let go of Thomas Frank earlier this month, and, like Manchester United, they’ve decided to go with a temporary setup for now and figure out the bigger picture in the summer.

Tudor, who’s managed clubs like Marseille, Lazio, and Juventus, is set to take charge for the first time this weekend in the North London derby against Arsenal. Saltor will be in the dugout for his first Spurs match, too.

If you’ve followed Saltor’s career, you might know he’s often worked with Graham Potter. That’s how he ended up at both Chelsea and West Ham. When Potter left Chelsea in 2023, Saltor took over as interim head coach. His one match in charge ended in a 0-0 draw with Liverpool. Frank Lampard replaced him soon after, and Saltor stayed on as part of the coaching staff until Mauricio Pochettino arrived, at which point he moved on. He later reunited with Potter at West Ham but left when Potter did in September.

Tottenham’s official statement confirmed the news: “Following the arrival of Igor Tudor as Head Coach until the end of the season, we can now confirm the appointment of three additional coaches to our Men’s First Team coaching staff. We welcome Bruno Saltor as Igor's assistant coach." Born in El Masnou, Spain, Saltor started his playing career in his home country before joining Brighton in 2012. He made 235 appearances there over seven years, then moved into coaching with the Seagulls after retiring in 2019. Since then, he’s picked up experience at Chelsea and West Ham.

Along with Saltor’s appointment, Spurs also announced some departures. Justin Cochrane, John Heitinga, and Chris Haslam are all leaving the coaching staff after Frank’s exit. The club thanked them for their efforts and wished them well.

GLASNER OUT? CRYSTAL PALACE CONSIDERING IMMEDIATE EXIT FOR BOSS AFTER DISMAL EUROPEAN DRAW

Oliver Glasner’s exit is imminent! Discover why Robbie Keane has emerged as the favorite to lead Crystal Palace out of crisis.

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Odds crash on Robbie Keane becoming the next Crystal Palace manager.

Oliver Glasner was supposed to stick around at Crystal Palace until the end of the season. That was the plan, anyway. But after another rough run of results, his exit could come a lot sooner.

Thursday night in Bosnia should’ve been nothing special, just a routine first leg against a team Palace should handle easily, with the real test back at Selhurst Park next week. Instead, a 1-1 draw against Zrinjski Mostar turned into another mess in a season that’s gotten uglier by the week for Glasner and Palace.

The travelling fans didn’t hide how they felt.

Palace have only managed one win in their last 15 games. That’s not a blip; it’s a full-on collapse, and it looks like Glasner’s time might be up even faster than everyone thought.

People at the top of the club have started openly asking if letting Glasner finish out his contract is actually hurting more than helping. He said back in January that he’d leave when his deal was up in the summer, but with results falling off a cliff and morale at rock bottom, those discussions have picked up speed.

Word is, Palace have already started looking for Glasner’s replacement, planning for a summer hire. But now, it looks like they might bring in his successor right away.

One name has shot straight to the top of the list: Robbie Keane.

TalkSPORT’s Alex Crook says Palace are considering Keane as a short-term fix if Glasner goes before the season ends. Keane’s reputation has soared lately. He won the Israeli Premier League with Maccabi Tel Aviv, then took the Hungarian league title in his first season at Ferencváros.

His win rate at Maccabi was over 73 per cent. He’s also done time as an assistant coach at Leeds and Middlesbrough. People who’ve played for him, like Ireland’s Callum O’Dowda, rave about him. O’Dowda said, “As soon as he opens his mouth, you want to listen. It’s phenomenal, really. On the coaching side,e he has been good.”

For now, Keane is still in charge at Ferencvaros, who are still in the Europa League, so prying him away won’t be simple.

Palace sit 13th in the Premier League, eight points clear of the relegation zone, but that gap feels less safe with every week they fail to win.

Tottenham even considered Keane as an interim manager before they went with Igor Tudor.

Premier League Standings

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