It was a long and painful night in north London for Tottenham Hotspur — not just because of the defeat, but because of the numbers that followed it.
Manager Thomas Frank didn’t hide his disappointment after his team recorded their lowest-ever expected goals (xG) total in a Premier League game, admitting he was “massively hurt” by the performance.
Spurs barely troubled Chelsea’s defence, ending the match with an xG of just 0.05 — their lowest since the statistic became a benchmark in football back in 2012.
The home crowd made their feelings clear, booing loudly at the final whistle, and Frank said he completely understood their frustration.
Players Walk Away as Frustration Spills Over
Frank did his usual post-match lap of appreciation to thank the remaining supporters in the stadium, but what happened next raised eyebrows.
A video shared by fan journalist Chris Cowlin appeared to show Djed Spence and Micky van de Ven ignoring their manager when he tried to speak to them after the final whistle.
Spence, in particular, looked visibly angry, waving his arms as he walked toward the tunnel — a gesture that didn’t go unnoticed.
Frank, however, played down any talk of tension, saying emotions were simply running high.
“The players are of course frustrated,” Frank explained.
“They all want to do well, they want to win and perform, and I completely understand that.
I always go over to thank the fans whether we win or lose — it’s easier when we win, obviously — but we need to stay consistent in good and bad moments.”
The Spurs boss added that he didn’t see the incident as a major issue. “Micky and Djed are doing everything they can.
Everyone is frustrated right now, and that’s natural after a performance like that. I don’t think it’s a big problem.”
Frank Admits Spurs’ Attack “Hurt Massively”
When asked about his side’s inability to create chances, Frank didn’t mince words. “It hurt massively,” he said.
“I’ve never managed a team that created so little in one game — never. That’s something we need to look into and fix immediately.”
For a manager known for building attacking, energetic sides, the stat was especially painful.
Spurs looked toothless in front of goal, struggling to connect passes or break down Chelsea’s structure.
Manager Accepts Boos from Fans as “Part of Football”
The boos that rang around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at full-time were impossible to ignore, and Frank didn’t try to excuse them.
“Yes, 100 per cent, I get it,” he said honestly. “We all feel the frustration and the emotions. It’s extremely painful.”
He added that facing questions after such a defeat was one of the hardest parts of the job.
“You’re burning inside, wanting to find answers, wanting to rewatch the game and figure out what went wrong — but you have to stay calm.
Chelsea were very good tonight. We were second best and performed badly.”
Maresca Praises Caicedo’s Dominance for Chelsea
While Spurs were left picking through the wreckage of their worst attacking display in years, Chelsea had plenty to celebrate.
Manager Enzo Maresca was full of praise for Moises Caicedo, describing him as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world — alongside Manchester City’s Rodri.
Caicedo’s control in the centre of the pitch was key to Chelsea’s win, as he repeatedly broke up Tottenham’s attempts to build momentum and dictated the game’s rhythm from start to finish.
What’s Next for Tottenham?
Thomas Frank now faces a huge test — not just tactically, but emotionally.
Restoring confidence in his squad will be crucial, especially after fans voiced their anger so openly.
With another tough fixture looming, the Spurs boss will need to rediscover the spark that made his teams so admired.
For now, though, it’s clear that the frustration runs deep at Tottenham — from the manager to the players, and across the stands of north London.