Tottenham Hotspur manager Frank is really holding his ground. He firmly believes the Spurs supporters are still right there behind him. This strong message comes after a pretty tough 2-1 Premier League loss to Nottingham Forest on New Year’s Day. But it wasn’t just about fan sentiment. Frank also gave some worrying news about midfielder Pape Matar Sarr, who’s now a doubt for upcoming games. It’s a bit of a setback, definitely.
Frank Stays Strong on Fan Backing
Frank spoke to the media on Friday, January 2, 2026. This was just hours after that disappointing defeat at the City Ground. He was very clear about the support he’s been getting. “I still believe the fans are behind me,” he said, according to football.london journalist Alasdair Gold. He really feels their presence. “The fans have been fantastic since day one. They have backed the team, backed me.”
Even with some recent ups and downs, Frank pointed to the vocal support during the Forest match itself. Apparently, the fans were still making noise. And BBC Sport also picked up on his firm stance. They noted how Frank “remained defiant about supporter backing post-match.” So, despite some general chatter about fan protests, Frank seems pretty confident in his relationship with the fanbase. He’s not wavering, it seems.
Sarr’s Hamstring Scare Adds Injury Concerns
But the press conference wasn’t all about fan loyalty. Frank also had to deliver an injury update. And it wasn’t good news for Pape Matar Sarr. The young midfielder had to leave the field early in the Forest game. He felt something in his hamstring, which is never good. “Pape [Matar Sarr] felt something in his hamstring. We will assess him tomorrow but he is a doubt,” Frank revealed. Sarr was substituted in the 68th minute, a real blow during a critical match.
This injury could be a real problem. Sarr has been a pretty important player, you know? Sky Sports confirmed the hamstring issue. They said Tottenham would assess Sarr ahead of their next game. That’s against Wolves, coming up on January 5. The Athletic also mentioned “Sarr’s fitness in doubt after hamstring tweak.” As of now, the official TottenhamHotspur.com website hasn’t given a detailed prognosis. So, it’s a waiting game, but not a positive start to the new year for Sarr or the club.
Frank’s Frustration with Officials Boils Over
It’s not just injuries and fan support Frank’s been talking about lately. He’s been pretty outspoken on refereeing decisions too. In another recent Premier League clash, Frank was absolutely fuming about a specific incident. He felt there was a clear foul, a shove on Cristian Romero, right before the opposition scored the winning goal. He told Sky Sports his players showed “strong personalities.”
But he didn’t hold back on the officials. “There is a massive mistake by (referee) John (Brooks) on the pitch. Two hands on the back by Ekitike. I don’t understand how he didn’t see it. Okay,” Frank stated, clearly annoyed. And then VAR, well, that was another issue for him. “Luckily we have VAR so they will bail you out when you need it which they didn’t. That was the second mistake.” Frank really called it an “unbelievable mistake” and a “huge mistake.” He’s clearly passionate, and isn’t afraid to say what he thinks, which is something.
A Crucial Wolves Clash Looms for Spurs
So, the Spurs squad is heading into a pretty important run of games. They’re coming off a disappointing defeat. And now they’ve got that injury worry with Sarr. The next big test is a Premier League fixture against Wolves. That’s scheduled for January 5, 2026. If Sarr is out, Frank will really need to adjust his lineup. Other players will have to step up and perform.
The manager, for his part, seems resilient. He’s convinced the fans are with him, which is key, really. But a strong performance, or even better, a win against Wolves, would definitely help ease things. It would lift spirits for everyone, from the players to the faithful supporters.
Baishali Karmakar 
Govind Singh 
Annsly Raena