LONDON (AP) – Another Champions League win could give Tottenham manager Thomas Frank some breathing room even as his team struggles in the Premier League.
Three days after being jeered by Tottenham supporters Lost 2-1 to West HamFrank thanked Tottenham fans for their support in Tuesday’s 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund.
“I felt, especially in the first half, that it could be a special European night. The fans were really great and really supported the team, so I’m really happy,” he told broadcaster TNT.
“It felt great to be standing there. The atmosphere and the energy and how it transferred to the players, it was special.”
The victory means Tottenham have now won five games since the beginning of November, three of which came in the Champions League.
The victory over Dortmund took Frank’s side to fourth place in the Champions League table, taking them a long way towards qualifying directly for the round of 16. They are still only 14th in the Premier League.
It’s a common story for Spurs to have overachieving in Europe and underperforming in the Premier League. Frank’s predecessor, Ange Postecoglou, was sacked despite winning the Europa League but only finishing 17th in England.
A team with fewer injuries meant a Tottenham team unlike any other during Frank’s tenure. Dominic Solanke scored in his first start of the season after ankle surgery in September, while 17-year-old defender Junai Byfield made his first-team debut off the bench when Lucas Bergvall limped off.
Tottenham have lost three games in a row, obvious mistake — drinking coffee from a cup emblazoned with the emblem of their hated rivals Arsenal — Frank hopes this victory will be the start of a turnaround.
“We need to use this win and this performance as momentum,” Frank said.
Tottenham have a chance to build momentum against Burnley, who are 19th in the Premier League, and close out the Champions League stage next week with a game against Eintracht Frankfurt. fired the coach Sunday.
If they can overcome these challenges, February will be a crucial month as they will face four strong opponents in a row: Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle and Arsenal.
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