The moment Tottenham’s coach was ignored by two players after the Chelsea defeat went viral

Following the 0-1 defeat to Chelsea in the 11th round of the Premier League, Tottenham’s coach Thomas Frank was put in an uncomfortable position when two of his players, Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence, ignored him on the pitch as the team was heavily booed by supporters.

A video captured Frank trying to shake hands and talk to the two players, but they walked straight into the tunnel looking disappointed; the clip quickly went viral on social media and sparked widespread reaction.

Thomas Frank was ignored by Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence

After the game, Coach Frank spoke out to explain, affirming that he “completely understands” the players’ reaction and does not see it as a serious problem. “The players are disappointed, which is understandable. They want to perform well and win, and when the result is not as expected, emotional reactions are normal,” the Danish strategist shared. “I think it’s a minor issue. Both Micky and Djed gave their best effort. We work in our own way and I don’t see any major problem.”

In reality, Tottenham produced one of their worst performances since expected goals (xG) statistics have been used in the Premier League, recording only 0.05 xG — the lowest in club history. Spurs had just one shot on target while Chelsea consistently dominated both possession and chances. After the final whistle, the crowd at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium booed the home team in a gloomy atmosphere.

Frank maintained his habit of walking around the pitch to thank the fans despite the whistles of disapproval. However, this gesture was not met with support from the entire squad. Spence even showed frustration when leaving the field, and Van de Ven did not stop despite the coach calling his name. Many saw this as a sign of a rift within Tottenham, but Frank insisted everything was fine. “I understand their feelings. In football, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. The important thing is to remain calm. I know the players still respect the coaching staff.”

Former stars Alan Shearer and Ashley Williams also spoke up in defense of the two Tottenham players. Shearer said, “I totally understand them. When you’re booed on your home ground, the first thing players want to do is leave the pitch as quickly as possible.” Williams agreed, “There is nothing personal here. They just want to avoid the cameras and recover their spirits.”

The defeat to Chelsea marked Tottenham’s third home loss this season and extended their poor form with only one win in the last five matches. Frank admitted, “This was my worst performance with Tottenham. It pains me to see the team create so few chances. We need to improve immediately.”

Despite facing heavy pressure, the 52-year-old coach remained composed. “I trust my players. We have a new attacking line and need time to build chemistry. Tottenham will score again, I am confident of that.”

Tottenham will quickly return to action when they host Copenhagen in the Champions League midweek, before facing Manchester United at the weekend.