LONDON: Thomas Frank said he can handle the pressure to win trophies with Tottenham as he prepared for the start the club’s League Cup bid against Doncaster on Wednesday.
While many of his fellow Premier League managers use the League Cup to blood youngsters, Frank has pledged to pick a strong team to face third-tier Doncaster in the third-round clash in London.
Frank is well aware that Tottenham’s Europa League triumph under his predecessor Ange Postecoglou last season has raised expectations among fans.
Postecoglou was axed despite ending Tottenham’s 17-year trophy drought because he presided over the club’s worst top-flight finish since 1976/77.
Improving on that 17th place is crucial for Frank in his first season after arriving from Brentford, but putting more silverware in the trophy cabinet would also be a feather in his cap.
“I’m very aware of the expectation,” said Frank. “I think it’s that balance. I would like us to get there where we can compete in all four tournaments throughout the year.
“If you want to compete in all four tournaments, you need to be good enough to pick the right team every single time.”
Tottenham last won the League Cup in 2008, while their most recent FA Cup success came in 1991.
They have not been crowned English champions since 1961.
Frank has won three of his first five league games and kicked off Tottenham’s Champions League challenge with a victory over Villarreal.
The Dane will be without Ben Davies and Randal Kolo Muani against Doncaster, but Dominic Solanke could be on the bench after the England striker trained on Tuesday.
“I think we’re aware that no players can play 60 games of 90 minutes. So, it’s that balance we need to hit throughout the season. Not only because we are facing Doncaster,” Frank said of his plans.
“We need to hit that perfect number of players that rotates and then a strong team. It will be a strong team.”
Frank unfazed by trophy expectations at Spurs
https://arab.news/wr5fa
Frank unfazed by trophy expectations at Spurs
- “I’m very aware of the expectation,” said Frank
- “I think it’s that balance. I would like us to get there where we can compete in all four tournaments throughout the year”
UAE dethrone Algeria as Jordan edge Iraq to reach Arab Cup semi-finals
- Jordan repeat Asian Cup triumph over Iraq with a 1-0 victory, Ali Olwan scoring from the spot for the 4th time in 4 consecutive matches
- UAE end Algeria’s reign as Arab Cup champions with a 7-6 penalty-shootout win after the game ends 1-1
DOHA: The UAE and Jordan booked their places in the Arab Cup semi-finals on a dramatic day of quarter-final action in which the defending champions were eliminated and a regional rivalry was renewed.
Jordan repeated their Asian Cup triumph over Iraq with another narrow victory, as Ali Olwan extended his remarkable streak of scoring from the spot to four consecutive matches.
His first-half penalty was the only goal in a cagey encounter with few clear-cut chances for either side. Jordan dominated early on but were dealt a blow when star forward Yazan Al-Naimat was forced off with a knee injury.
Iraq improved after the break, with the talismanic Ali Jasim injecting a sense of urgency and twice drawing smart saves from Yazeed Abulaila, first with a fierce long-range strike and then a driven effort moments later.
Jordan nearly sealed the victory with a second goal late on when Mohannad Abu Taha, who scored with a spectacular long-range strike earlier in the tournament, hammered another powerful attempt just wide.
Nevertheless, the Jordanians held firm to set up a semi-final clash with Saudi Arabia on Monday.
The second quarter-final delivered even more drama, as the UAE ended Algeria’s reign as Arab Cup champions with a sudden-death, penalty-shootout win.
Algeria dominated the opening half and twice found the net, only for both goals to be ruled out. They finally made their pressure count just 50 seconds after the restart, when Adil Boulbina fired home after Yacine Brahimi’s strike was parried into his path.
The UAE had struggled to gain a foothold in the game but hit back through Bruno, who converted a pinpoint, inswinging cross from Yahya Al-Ghassani midway through the second half.
As Algeria pressed for a winner they were nearly punished at the end of regulation time when Lucas Pimenta’s fine header forced a sharp save from Farid Chaal.
Extra time offered chances for Brahimi and substitute Zakaria Draoui to put Algeria ahead again, but the breakthrough never came.
And so to the shootout, in which the UAE goalkeeper, Hamad Almeqbaali, denied Mohammed Khacef before Richard Akonnor coolly dispatched the decisive kick to make it 7-6 on penalties and set up a semi-final clash with Morocco, also on Monday.
