Tottenham Hotspur endured a miserable evening against Chelsea, and the mood around the club only worsened after the full-time whistle.
The 1-0 defeat at home was one of the most disappointing performances of the season, leaving fans furious and even some players visibly frustrated with head coach Thomas Frank.
Spurs looked lifeless from the very beginning, struggling to create any meaningful chances against their London rivals. The numbers summed up just how poor they were.
Tottenham produced an expected goals (xG) figure of just 0.10 the lowest recorded by any Spurs side in history. For a club with the attacking talent and ambition that Tottenham boast, that statistic alone was enough to spark outrage among the supporters.
As the referee blew for full-time, loud boos echoed throughout the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The reaction from the fans was fierce, and what followed moments later only deepened the sense of unease.
Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence, two players who have both featured prominently this season, appeared visibly upset and reacted in a way that caught everyone’s attention. Both walked straight past Thomas Frank without acknowledging him and stormed down the tunnel in frustration.
Van de Ven, known for his usually calm and composed demeanor, looked furious as he left the pitch, while Spence appeared to be gesturing toward the manager in visible disagreement.
It was an awkward moment that symbolized the tension within the squad after such a poor performance. Just a week earlier, Frank had publicly praised Van de Ven for his solid display in Tottenham’s win at Everton, describing him as one of the team’s most reliable defenders. However, against Chelsea, the mood had changed completely.
The fans’ reaction only added to the storm. The jeers that rang around the stadium were among the loudest since Tottenham moved into their new ground. It was a clear message of frustration, not just at the defeat but at the manner of it a lack of energy, creativity, and fight from a team that looked short of ideas.
Thomas Frank is not believed to be under immediate pressure from the club’s hierarchy, but the events of that evening will raise questions about whether the players are fully behind him.
Tottenham’s struggles in attack have become a recurring theme, and the lack of progress from key creative players such as Xavi Simons has only intensified concerns.
Simons, one of the club’s marquee summer signings, has yet to find his rhythm in the Premier League, and his quiet performance against Chelsea was another sign that Frank is struggling to get the best out of his attacking options.
When asked about Van de Ven and Spence’s reaction after the match, Frank tried to downplay the incident. Speaking to reporters, he said, “I understand why you ask the question, but that’s one of the small issues.
Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence have performed well this season, and it’s just a small thing.” His attempt to dismiss the situation as minor didn’t convince everyone, especially after fans and pundits noted how symbolic the gesture felt in the context of such a disappointing defeat.
Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, however, took a different approach. The Italian publicly apologized to supporters after the game, admitting that the performance was unacceptable and promising that the team would respond. His words reflected the accountability many fans have been asking to see from the players.
Still, it’s hard to ignore how the night unfolded from the lackluster display on the pitch to the visible tension at full-time. Tottenham’s problems seem to run deeper than a single defeat.
The creativity that once defined their play has vanished in recent weeks, replaced by a cautious and disjointed style that frustrates both players and fans alike.
The body language of Van de Ven and Spence said more than words could. It showed how morale has dipped and how the dressing room may be feeling the weight of expectations.
For a manager like Frank, who prides himself on team spirit and discipline, such moments can be telling. They expose cracks that need addressing quickly if Spurs are to steady themselves and regain confidence.
Ultimately, while Thomas Frank continues to insist that the dressing room is united, the optics after the Chelsea loss painted a different picture.
The players’ visible frustration, combined with the crowd’s discontent, serves as a warning sign that something must change soon. Tottenham remain a talented side capable of much better, but unless they rediscover their attacking spark and cohesion, even minor incidents like this could snowball into something far more damaging for their season.
