TOTTENHAM BOSS THOMAS FRANK PRAISES FIRED PREDECESSOR: ANGE POSTECOGLOU IS A "LEGEND"
Tottenham boss Thomas Frank says Ange Postecoglou, despite his quick firing at Forest, will definitely return to the Premier League due to his talent.
Thomas Frank believes Ange Postecoglou, his Tottenham predecessor, will be back in the Premier League at some point, despite his tough time at Nottingham Forest.
Today, Spurs are playing at the City Ground. It almost seemed like Frank would be facing Postecoglou, but Forest's owner, Evangelos Marinakis, fired the Australian after just 39 days. He didn't win any of his eight games there.
Instead of Postecoglou, Frank's friend Sean Dyche will be managing the home team, which means a different kind of challenge for Frank.
I don’t know him that well, but I hope Ange comes back. "He loves coaching and being in the game, so I always want good coaches to return," said the Tottenham boss.
People will remember Postecoglou at Spurs as the one who ended the club's long trophy drought. They won the Europa League title in Bilbao in May, beating Ruben Amorim's Manchester United.
But he got fired a few weeks after that because Tottenham finished 17th in the Premier League. He focused on the European games, picking his best players for those and using weaker teams for the domestic matches. Before getting sacked, Postecoglou guided Spurs to fifth place in his first season, even after Harry Kane was sold to Bayern Munich right before the season started.
Ange did a great job as Spurs manager in many ways, said Frank. They had a really good first season in the Premier League and won their first trophy in ages, which is a big success.
He also did that at Celtic and other places. There are many reasons why things go well or badly. It’s not really my place to talk about those details.
The Tottenham boss said that not playing against his predecessor means he and his players won’t have to answer as many questions about what happened before and after Postecoglou left.
Yes, it's probably easier that way, the 52-year-old admitted with a smile. All I can say is Ange is a legend and always will be. He won a huge trophy and played a big role in that. We all learn from others. I’m building on what Ange has done.
Frank is good friends with Dyche, who he's facing this afternoon. They often talk about their thoughts on the game and how it should be played.
We talk about a lot of stuff—styles, players, culture, teams, everything. That's part of it, Frank said. Every style has its good and bad points. There's no question about that.
Sean has been very successful in the Premier League for many years. He got great results at Burnley and did a great job at Everton. I’m sure he’ll make Nottingham Forest successful, for sure.
HOW JAMES MADDISON’S INDIVIDUAL TRAINING SIGNALS A SHOCK SEASON RETURN
James Maddison returns to individual training as Igor Tudor prepares Tottenham for a vital relegation battle with Forest.
Ahead of Tottenham’s match against Nottingham Forest, manager Igor Tudor gave an update on when James Maddison might return from injury. It’s a crucial moment for Spurs as they prepare to host Forest in what could be the defining 90 minutes of Tudor’s time at the club and quite possibly a key fixture that will shape the season for both teams.
Currently separated by just one point, Tottenham and Forest are locked in a battle against relegation. A win would push Spurs four points clear of the drop zone, while a loss might drag them into the bottom three. The stakes couldn’t be clearer.
Tudor’s side heads into this game with renewed energy, surprisingly positive given the mood just two weeks ago. The draw at Anfield broke a six-game losing streak, and their recent 3-2 victory over Atlético Madrid, though not enough to overturn the aggregate score, brought back a sense of belief. Young players like Xavi Simons and Archie Gray impressed, while Mathys Tel kept the opposition on their toes. The atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was electric in a way fans haven’t felt for months. While the Champions League hopes are dashed, that performance has injected valuable momentum into Spurs’ survival fight.
There’s also some hopeful news on the injury front. Dominic Solanke, who missed the Atlético leg with a hip issue, might be available. His physical presence adds a different dimension to Tottenham’s attack, which Tudor will surely be glad to have.
But the most promising update came from Tudor’s comments about Maddison. The creative midfielder, sidelined since August after rupturing his ACL in a preseason friendly, has begun some individual training, spotted alongside Palhinha. Recoveries from ACL injuries are never straightforward, and the team won’t rush him back. With only seven league games left after Sunday, there’s a narrow window for his return. Still, even the possibility of Maddison getting back on the pitch—someone who can change a game with a moment of skill or a precise pass—offers a much-needed morale boost.
For now, though, the focus remains firmly on Forest.
WHY BORUSSIA DORTMUND EXPECT JADON SANCHO TO SIGN FOR FREE
Unai Emery praises Jadon Sancho despite poor stats, while Dortmund free up £21m in wages to lure him back to Germany.
Borussia Dortmund really want Jadon Sancho back, and they’re hoping to get him for free from Manchester United. Sancho’s contract runs out this summer, and honestly, no one expects United to offer him a new one.
Right now, Sancho’s on loan at Aston Villa. It’s his third spell away from Old Trafford since United signed him for £73 million in 2021. His move to Villa was just a loan with no option to buy.
Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, has hinted he might keep Sancho, but Dortmund aren’t sitting around. The Times says Dortmund didn’t chase wingers last summer because Nico Kovac liked the 3-4-2-1 formation, but now the boss has changed his mind and wants Sancho back.
If Sancho comes back, he'll need to take a hefty pay cut from his £300,000-a-week salary. Still, Dortmund’s where he made his name after moving from Manchester City in 2017.
Dortmund have room in the budget this summer; they let the contracts of Julian Brandt, Niklas Süle, and Salih Özcan run out. That saves them about £21 million a year, and they’re optimistic they can lure Sancho, who’s allowed to strike pre-contract deals with foreign clubs.
Sancho actually spent half of the 2024 season back at Dortmund after Erik ten Hag froze him out at United. He helped them reach the Champions League final, but nothing permanent came of it.
Something similar happened during his loan to Chelsea last season. The club even paid a £5 million penalty just to avoid having to sign him outright. Villa picked him up right at the transfer deadline in September, but, once again, he’s struggled.
So far, Sancho’s got one goal and one assist in 29 games across all competitions. Still, Emery thinks there’s more to come.
When asked in February about signing Sancho for good, Emery said, “Not yet, but he’s a fantastic player. Hopefully, he can help us by improving within our system, like he is doing.
“He’ll need a new contract; maybe it’s here. If he plays his best football, we’ll want him. But other teams will be interested, too.”
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