Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank believes his side are not title contenders despite moving up to third on the standings with a commanding 3-0 win over Everton on Sunday.
Spurs had suffered a 2-1 defeat in their last league game to Aston Villa and needed a response to continue their rise up the table. Everton, meanwhile, were yet to taste defeat since moving to the Hill Dickinson Stadium at the start of the season.
Dutch defender Micky Van de Ven opened scoring in the 19th minute, heading home from close range after the ball was cushioned onto his path by Rodrigo Bentacur.
The home side had a goal ruled out for an obstruction on the goalkeeper, before Van de Ven added his second of the game from yet another set-piece.
Pape Matar Sarr scored a late goal to make it three for the visitors, as they recorded their fifth league win of the season.
“No. I think there’s probably a few teams that are ahead of us. I think it’s fair to say that I’m only thinking of one day, one game at a time. And let’s see where we are in April”, Frank dismissed his side’s title claims.
“We are in the beginning of building something, [I am] very happy with a lot of things … defensive side of it, mentality, set pieces.”
Tottenham moved up to third on the standings under their new manager, just a single point behind second-placed Bournemouth and five behind league leaders Arsenal.
Spurs have also accrued 13 points on the road this season – the most by any team in the league.
“But I think there’s a bit we need to work on, especially offensively to be more free floating still. It’s a long season ahead. Very happy with going away from home after two away games in the Champions League …that’s a big part of it”, he added.
“But to continue performing day in, day out is a challenge which we embrace and want to do. So who knows, but I need to take it one game at a time.”
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