Thomas Frank has laid it bare. The Tottenham manager admits this spell is tough. Yet he believes the grind will shape something better down the line.
Spurs fans made their feelings clear after the goalless draw with Brentford. They chanted “boring, boring Tottenham Hotspur.”
The mood turned sharp. The pressure increased. The results have not helped. The football has lacked spark. And the manager knows it.
“So the short answer is no [I’m not enjoying my time],” Frank said.
He understands the frustration. He accepts the criticism. But he also sees the broader picture. He believes the rebuilding phase is bigger than many realise.
“When I pull myself out of it and look down, I think what a privilege to be in charge of this fantastic club in a period where it’s a big transition. I think someone told me that we have changed eight leadership guys in the top of the club.
“The transition, there has never been as much in 140 years. There’s a lot of changes, but the potential is huge.
“That’s part of it. I’m looking forward to looking back at it and thinking, what a big learning [experience]. Now I’m enjoying it.”
Frank knows supporters want results now. They want goals. They want energy. They want excitement. But he likened the process to running through fatigue. Pain first. Reward later.
“When you need to put in a big, big shift and it’s not smooth and it’s tough, it’s probably difficult to enjoy it.
“I’ll give you an example. If I run hard, I don’t enjoy that moment. But I know I need to keep my head down and run hard to get through it, to get my fitness up or to win a race, whatever it is.
“We’re in a situation where you need to run hard, to stay in it, to get through it. And then on the other side, when you look back on this spell we think ‘what a learning experience’, that made it so much better for the future.
“It’s definitely a marathon. It definitely seems like it’s one of the little bit more heavy miles I’m on now. But head down and keep going.”
So the message is clear. Spurs are digging in. They are pushing through turbulence. And the manager is banking on growth when the whistle blows for the long game.
Right now, though, it’s about surviving this stretch. Fighting through boos. Grinding through results. And waiting for the moment when the pain turns into progress.
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