Thomas Frank’s admission on Mathys Tel speaks volumes after brutal Tottenham snub
Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank was full of praise for young forward Mathys Tel, describing his display as “very impressive” after the Frenchman helped Spurs secure a convincing 3-0 victory away at West Ham United.
The 20-year-old striker, who initially joined Tottenham on loan from Bayern Munich in January before sealing a £30 million permanent transfer this summer, had endured a difficult week leading up to the London derby. Earlier in the week, Tel was told he had been left out of Tottenham’s registered squad for the Champions League group stage, a decision that raised eyebrows among supporters given his promising form and potential.
Frank was forced to reduce his European roster from 25 players to 22 due to UEFA’s strict squad requirements regarding homegrown talent. As a result, Tel was one of several unlucky names cut, alongside Radu Dragusin, Yves Bissouma, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, and Kota Takai. It means the French Under-21 international will not be eligible to feature in Europe’s elite competition until at least February.
Despite this setback, Frank immediately showed his faith in Tel by handing him a starting role against West Ham on Saturday. Deployed as the central striker, Tel was flanked by Xavi Simons on the left and Mohammed Kudus on the right in an attacking trio that combined flair, pace, and relentless pressing.
While Tel did not get on the scoresheet, his performance was singled out by his manager for his tireless energy and commitment off the ball. Speaking after the match, Frank admitted the display wasn’t spectacular in terms of end product but hailed the youngster’s professionalism and determination.
“I think Mathys was very impressive,” Frank said in his post-match press conference. “The performance was maybe not through the roof, but it was very solid — a 7/10. He worked hard, pressed constantly, and gave everything for the team. Even though he’s not in the Champions League squad right now, I’m very happy with what he gave us tonight. That shows his mentality.”
Tottenham’s dominance grew as the game went on, and their patience was rewarded after a tight opening spell. Pape Matar Sarr broke the deadlock early in the second half, before Lucas Bergvall and Micky van de Ven added further goals to secure what Frank described as a “clear and deserved win.”
The Spurs boss reflected on the flow of the match, noting how West Ham defended well in the opening 20 minutes before his side found their rhythm.
“I think the first 15 or 20 minutes were even, not too much happened,” Frank explained. “But then we really grew into it. For the last 20 or 25 minutes of the first half, we dominated, created a lot of good opportunities, and were dangerous with our wide play through Xavi and Mo. We had a lot of corners as well where we looked threatening. In the second half, the breakthrough came, and from there, we controlled it. To win 3-0 away in a derby — that’s a very good performance.”
Frank also highlighted the significance of the result for Spurs fans, pointing out that Tottenham had not beaten West Ham at the London Stadium in six years.
“We all know what the derby means for the fans,” he added. “It’s a tough place to come, and we haven’t won here for a long time. To do it with a 3-0 win is impressive. It shows the quality and resilience of this group.”
For Tel, the night was more about proving his character than his statistics. Having responded to Champions League disappointment with a hardworking display in one of Spurs’ biggest domestic fixtures, he showed why Frank and the coaching staff continue to trust in his long-term potential.