The atmosphere at Tottenham Hotspur has reached a state of high tension following the news that young forward Mathys Tel has been removed from the club’s Champions League squad. This marks a difficult turning point for the French international, who joined the club from Bayern Munich for a significant £30 million fee only last summer.
For the second time this season, Tel finds himself on the outside looking in regarding European competition, a situation that has reportedly left the player and his representatives in a state of fury. The decision, made by manager Thomas Frank, comes at a time when the club is already grappling with inconsistent form and a restless fanbase.
The catalyst for this decision was the return to fitness of primary striker Dominic Solanke. Due to the rigid nature of UEFA squad registration rules, clubs often face difficult “either-or” scenarios when players return from long-term injuries.
Because of the specific way Spurs registered their players earlier in the campaign, Frank found himself in a position where he could only include one of the two forwards for the final league phase matches against Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt.
Despite Tel showing flashes of brilliance in recent domestic outings, the manager ultimately decided that the team’s European ambitions would be better served by the more experienced Solanke.
During a tense pre-match press conference, Frank addressed the controversy head-on. He admitted that the decision was not a pleasant one to make but insisted that it was a necessity of professional football.
He expressed sympathy for Tel, even stating that if he were able to select from his entire roster without administrative restrictions, the 20-year-old would likely be in the starting lineup for the upcoming match. However, the reality of the rulebook meant a choice had to be made, and Frank stood by his preference for Solanke.
This explanation has done little to soothe the anger of Tel’s camp, with reports from insiders like Fabrizio Romano suggesting that the relationship between the player and the coaching staff is now severely strained.
The friction between the manager and the supporters was also evident during the recent 2-1 defeat to West Ham United. When Frank decided to substitute Tel in the 62nd minute, the decision was met with audible jeers from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium crowd.
At the time, Spurs were trailing 1-0, and fans felt that Tel was one of the few players offering a genuine threat. Frank later explained that he needed to make a tactical change to get two traditional strikers on the pitch, moving Wilson Odobert to the right. While he praised Tel’s performance after that match, the subsequent decision to “boot” him from the European squad has only added fuel to the fire of fan discontent.
Frank now finds himself under immense pressure, with a record of 11 wins and 12 defeats across his 32 matches in charge. This mediocre return is not what the Tottenham board or the supporters expected when he was appointed.
However, the manager remains defiant. He spoke openly about having his “back against the wall” and emphasized his willingness to fight for his future at the club. He noted that the squad remains focused and that he still believes he can win back the trust of the fans through resilience and hard work.
In a moment of philosophical reflection during his press conference, Frank discussed the reality of leadership in the public eye. He mentioned a belief that in any walk of life, twenty percent of people will dislike you regardless of your actions, while another twenty percent will support you unconditionally.
He argued that his focus is on the remaining sixty percent those who value integrity and respect. By behaving well and showing character during this ” disaster moment,” he hopes to tilt the scales back in his favor.
The fallout from the Mathys Tel situation is likely to have long-term consequences. For a young player who left a giant like Bayern Munich in search of consistent opportunities, being dropped from a major competition twice in one season is a significant blow to his development and morale.
If the club cannot find a way to reconcile with the player, they risk losing a £30 million asset who was supposed to be a cornerstone of their future. For Thomas Frank, the immediate priority is delivering a result against Borussia Dortmund.
Without a victory to justify his controversial selection choices, the “when and not if” talk regarding his departure will only grow louder. The club is at a crossroads, and the coming weeks will determine whether this squad stays together or begins to fragment under the weight of administrative errors and poor results.
