Tottenham Hotspur

That's your lot from Thomas Frank's news conference and also from this page.

More positivity than maybe you'd expect considering the situation, but once again the Spurs boss is reiterating that he can turn things around.

Here are some of the top lines:

• Frank said he is still "feeling the trust" from the Spurs hierarchy despite the, in his words, ongoing "media circus"
• He claimed he has 11 fit outfield players available for selection for Tuesday evening and three of those will struggle to finish 90 minutes
• The Danish manager said he is "not in doubt" that he can win over disgruntled fans and explained that he is happy to continue taking the blame for bad results as long as the players receive support
• Frank confirmed that Dominic Solanke will replace Mathys Tel in the Champions League squad for Tuesday's game and gave this explanation as to why
• He once again reiterated he belief that things will turn around and emphasised how important the fans' support will be on Tuesday evening
• Finally, he discussed his recent lunch with the Tottenham hierarchy, claiming his position wasn't spoken about - something he called "an extremely good sign"

George Cummins
BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, Getty Images

This is the second pre-match press conference in a row that Thomas Frank has been very positive despite the despair from Tottenham supporters.

The manager said he is "ready for the fight" and is convinced he can win back the Tottenham fans. But if he is to do that he will have to do it the hard way.

They only have 11 outfield senior players for tomorrow's match at home to Borussia Dortmund. Injuries have been a theme of Frank's reign. He hasn't managed to start Dejan Kulusevki, Dominic Solanke and James Maddison on the pitch together this season. Now he has Richarlison out for seven weeks too.

They look a bit lame in attack and Guglielmo Vicario hasn't been in the best form at the other end. The problems are mounting for the Tottenham manager.

He said he had lunch with chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange today. They want him to succeed, but the performance and crowd reaction tomorrow night may decide Frank's future.

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A final word from Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank on whether he was given any assurances about his future when he had lunch with the hierarchy: "I haven't heard any situation like that in football where someone says 'hey mate if you win tomorrow no problem'. We had a good conversation about life and football and the future of the club.

"I think it is an extremely good sign because normally people run away if there is bad news or bad weather coming, they are normally not coming in and being friendly for lunch."

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank was asked how important fan support is against such a strong opposition on Tuesday: "It is crucial. I completely understand emotion in football and what it means for every fan that is involved. I completely understand that but I really understand when walking out on that pitch - the more they feel the energy and support, the better they perform. We need that tomorrow.

"The biggest thing is, are the players running hard? Yes they are. So, support them."

Image source, Getty Images

It is interesting that we have had conflicting messages on what "most Spurs fans" think.

Phil claims that most Spurs fans want Thomas Frank to stay, while Bill said that the "only people who want Frank to stay are not Spurs fans".

Well, we have been running a poll today at the top of this page, which is, admittedly, open to everyone, not just Tottenham supporters.

But the latest results show that 50% want Frank to stay, 17% want him to be given at least Tuesday's game against Borussia Dortmund, while 33% want him to get the sack.

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Back to Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank on being up for the fight: "I think being up for the fight is to get up every morning very early, coming in and preparing and doing everything we can to make sure we turn every stone and turn things around on the pitch. That is part of it.

"It is also to keep going, don't feel sorry for yourself, look at the bigger perspective. We all know that if you want to have success it cannot be just about me or Xavi [Simons]. It is about 25 players, staff, ownership, leadership. I am more than happy to take all the blame as long as I protect the players and fans and journalists back the players.

"I am not in doubt that is the right thing. I am not in doubt that things will turn, but I know we need to win more football matches."

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport Chelsea reporter

Tottenham forward Mathys Tel is said to be bemused at being left out of the Champions League squad for the second time this season.

The 20-year-old was left out of Thomas Frank's initial squad in September but was eventually added to replace a previously injured Dominic Solanke in December.

However, with Ricarlison now injured, Frank has recalled Solanke at the expense of Tel.

Before this, Tel had asked for an opportunity to leave the club on loan in January to improve his chance of making France's World Cup squad, but has so far not been allowed to do so.

Image source, Getty Images

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Thomas Frank on how he expects Tottenham fans to take the news that Mathys Tel has been dropped: "I do not know. I hope people understand that it is not a straightforward decision. It is him or Dom [Solanke] in the team tomorrow. That is the decision. I believe it is the right one and that is what I went with."

Image source, Reuters

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More from Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank on how important it is that fans are aware that it is still very early days in the process: "The fans are crucial. I don't see any club performing well without the fans and it is fair that it hasn't been smooth or as fluid as we want. A little bit too much up and down. Unfortunately, it is a results business and emotions are in this as well.

"There are a lot of signs that this is going the right way. We still need to find a way to get over the line and I think we are much closer than we think."

On his message to the fans: "I think they have been quite regularly in the right direction and it is such a little thing that needs to drop for us before we win 2-1 against West Ham and 3-2 against Bournemouth.

"I do not think we are that far away."

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank on his conversations with the hierarchy and what he has said to them: "Football is very simple but also a little bit complex. There are many moving parts.

"I think it is about keeping the noise out, staying calm, carrying on, looking at the performances. Are the players still running? They are running hard. I think the last three games, how they have come out from half-time and responded - it has been fantastic.

"Sometimes it is just football when you are going through that spell. Are you still running hard, still trying, still believing? Which I see signs of clearly in every game.

"Even the best manager in the world, Pep Guardiola, says 'I am nothing without my players' and it is fair to say they haven't been available enough the whole time. But hey, no problem. I am happy to take the blame as long as everyone supports the players."

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham made use of a Uefa rule that allows a team to bring in a squad substitute if a player has been ill or injured for 60 days.

Mathys Tel replaced the injured Dominic Solanke, but the Uefa rule states that Solanke could come straight back in for Tel when fit, which he now is.

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Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank was asked if he has made a selection decision whether to bring back Dominic Solanke into his Champions League squad in place of Mathys Tel: "I made the decision. It was not a nice decision to have to make but unfortunately that is football.

"The way the rules are, the only option was Dom or Mathys and I chose Dom because - I think Mathys has done very well the last couple of games and if I could pick from all the players he would start tomorrow, but I can only choose between the two of them. It's a tough one for Mathys, but he is not in the squad tomorrow."

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank on how he copes with all the scrutiny right now: "If your back is against the wall, you fight. I am energetic and I fight. It is not about me, we need to win football matches and we need to do that together.

"We are ready and focused on the game together and the players look good."

Image source, Getty Images

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Thomas Frank was pushed further on whether he believes he can win back the Tottenham supporters: "Yes, I am not in doubt of that. In this game, you always need resilience.

"The three biggest things in showing resilience is having good values and I believe I am a guy that has good values. Second is you know reality and the reality is that one in five people don't like you no matter what you do and one in five love you no matter what you do - both sides are probably biased, no matter what you do.

"And then there is the three and five, if you behave well, are respectful and show integrity then you are sweet.

"The reality is not everyone will like you."

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank was asked if he believes he can win the supporters back: "As I have said many times, as long as we win football matches and make sure we win enough of them - everyone will support us. It is not about me. It is about supporting the team, the players.

"We are playing a game tomorrow against a very good German side and we are a little bit limited with the players available. We have 11 outfield players available for the game from our normal first-team players. One of them is Xavi [Simons] and he didn't train today because there was a bad tackle from behind that injured his ankle but because he is so strong mentally he will play through pain tomorrow. Big courage to Xavi. And I cannot understand why that is not a red card, but that is for a bigger discussion.

"We have 11 players available and we probably have three players that need to push massively to get through 90 minutes physically, so that's why we need everyone to support us.

"We need everyone to support us from minute one. Especially the team, especially the players. If we get that support, anything can happen. Magic can happen."

Image source, Reuters