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Tottenham manager Thomas Frank admitted he was “very happy” after the club eased the pressure on him with a 2-0 home win over his former club Brentford, ending a run of disappointing results.
The Spurs boss had been under scrutiny following three defeats in four matches and a series of underwhelming performances at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Frank’s decision to give Xavi Simons his first start since November 8 proved decisive, with the Dutch midfielder assisting Richarlison’s opener before scoring himself in the 43rd minute to secure his first goal for the club.
Simons’ display injected confidence into the team, giving Tottenham just their fourth home league victory of the season.
“He’s been working very hard, and every player needs that extra bit of confidence,” Frank said. “His assist and goal gave him the lightness in his step that lifted the team.”
Spurs had won only once in their previous eight games, and another home defeat following last weekend’s 2-1 loss to Fulham would have intensified questions over Frank’s future.
“I’m very happy with the win,” he added. “The offensive performance looked much more right today.”
Brentford manager Keith Andrews, who worked under Frank last season, said facing his former boss added no extra pressure. “It didn’t feel strange at all. I was totally focused on the game and how it unfolded,” he said.
