Tottenham Players Snub Manager After Chelsea Loss Amid Record-Low xG

Tottenham Hotspur suffered a disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Chelsea, marked by their lowest expected goals (xG) total since 2012, with an xG of just 0.05. Manager Thomas Frank expressed that the poor performance deeply hurt him, acknowledging the frustration both among the players and fans, who booed the team at full time. After the match, Spurs defenders Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence notably ignored Frank's request to acknowledge the fans and avoided his attempt at a handshake, an incident Frank described as a "small issue" stemming from the players' frustration. Van de Ven's mistake directly contributed to Chelsea's winning goal, compounding the tense atmosphere. Despite the snub, Frank emphasized understanding the players' emotions and focused on improving the team's creativity and intensity moving forward. The incident has sparked speculation about unrest within the squad, but Frank remains focused on addressing performance issues rather than internal conflicts.