Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank says Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence have apologised after appearing to ignore him at full time during the 1–0 defeat to Chelsea, an incident that drew anger from supporters who branded their behaviour “disrespectful.”
Television cameras showed the two players walking straight past their manager as the final whistle blew, seemingly refusing to acknowledge him after another disappointing result.
The footage quickly spread on social media, with many fans questioning the attitude of the players and demanding an explanation from the club.
Frank, who has built a reputation for calm leadership and strong man-management, chose not to escalate the matter.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, ahead of their Champions League contest with Copenhagen on Tuesday, he confirmed that both van de Ven and Spence had taken responsibility for the misunderstanding.
“Micky and Djed came into my office yesterday,” Frank revealed.
“They said they wanted to say sorry and didn’t want it to look bad. They were frustrated with the result and the performance, and they didn’t mean to come across as disrespectful.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank says Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence have apologised after appearing to ignore him at full time during the 1–0 defeat to Chelsea, an incident that drew anger from supporters who branded their behaviour “disrespectful”
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Five things to know about Tottenham boss Thomas Frank
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“It was just frustration after a tough evening and some of the booing from the stands.”
The Tottenham manager emphasised that the issue had been resolved behind closed doors and that there were no lingering tensions in the dressing room.
“There’s no bad blood,” he said. “Both players have trained really well this week. We move on together. We win together, we lose together.”
Micky van de ven appeared to blank Thomas Frank after Tottenham’s defeat to Chelsea
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Djed Spence struggled during Tottenham’s defeat to Chelsea on Saturday
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The defeat to Chelsea marked Tottenham’s third consecutive home loss, deepening the sense of unease around the club.
After a bright start to the campaign, Frank’s side have struggled for form in recent weeks and now face a crucial Champions League fixture against Copenhagen on Tuesday night.
The manager hopes the apologies from van de Ven and Spence will serve as a moment of reflection and renewal for his squad.
Supporters have been quick to react online, with many praising the players for taking responsibility.
“Everyone can make mistakes in the heat of the moment,” wrote one fan on X, formerly Twitter.
“It’s good to see them front up and apologise. Now it’s time to fight for the shirt.”
Joao Pedro scored the winner as Chelsea beat Tottenham on Saturday night
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Others urged the team to rediscover the intensity that characterised their early-season performances.
“Frustration is understandable,” said another supporter. “But the only way to respond is to win games again. The next few fixtures are massive.”
Tottenham’s upcoming Premier League clash against Manchester United on Saturday is now seen as pivotal in determining the direction of their season.
Defeat would increase the pressure on Frank and further dampen morale in the dressing room, but victory could reignite belief and restore momentum.
For Frank, the priority is ensuring the incident does not overshadow the collective spirit he has tried to instil.
“The focus has to be on the football,” he said. “The lads care deeply. They were disappointed after the Chelsea match, but their response in training has been exactly what I want to see. Everyone is pulling in the same direction.”
