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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Matt Verri

Thomas Frank asks Tottenham fans to hold their boos until full-time

Plea: Thomas Frank - (John Walton/PA Wire)

Thomas Frank called for Tottenham fans to leave any booing until after matches, urging them to "carry us over the line".

Spurs need a big response when they host Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday night after a disastrous showing against Chelsea.

Frank's side were beaten 1-0 by the Blues and an xG of 0.05 summed up a dreadful attacking display.

There were boos at half-time and full-time but also during the match, as the Spurs fans voiced their anger when the team wasted set-piece opportunities or passed it backwards to the goalkeeper.

Pre-match there had been efforts to boost the atmosphere and keep the fans engaged, which Frank felt were noticeable early in the game.

“I just want to get the point across that I think the fans were fantastic the first 30 minutes of the game Saturday night," Frank said, sitting alongside Guglielmo Vicario at his pre-match press conference.

During the game, we need a little bit of help. And especially when it’s not going the right way

Thomas Frank

"I think the noise was incredible and that carried us forwards. It seems there was a little bit of a turning point when we conceded the goal. Where 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 or deal with the negativity or the criticism, we shouldn’t sit here.

"Probably Vic and I, we are in the football world because we love the game and we love to be part of something. It’s nice, the big occasions and the big crowds."

However, while Frank admitted he understood the booing after the match, he felt the Spurs fans could have played more of a role in pushing the team towards an equaliser.

"I think the fans were fantastic the first 30 and after the game if we perform badly and on top of that we lost the game, more than fair enough they boo us," Frank said.

"But during the game, we need a little bit of help. And especially when it’s not going the right way.

"They can be the turning point. We are down 1-0 last 15, imagine they carry us over the line. We got a little of an unfair 1-1, what a feeling. That point can be the difference in a long season.”

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