Jermaine Pennant has backed new Tottenham boss Thomas Frank to steady the ship in north London, but he thinks the former Brentford manager will fall short in one aspect.
Tottenham Hotspur had their first taste of silverware last season after a 17-year wait, thanks to their Europa League triumph against Manchester United in Bilbao, Spain.
Former boss Ange Postecoglou was sacked despite lifting the Europa League trophy, with his woeful Premier League campaign culminating in a shocking 17th-place finish, the worst ever league finish in Tottenham’s history.
New head coach Thomas Frank has now taken the reins at Tottenham and got his tenure off to a winning start with a 2-0 victory over Reading in his first pre-season friendly in charge.
Tottenham boss Thomas Frank aiming to emulate 2019 squad
Frank has already outlined his vision for the upcoming campaign, highlighting his desire to replicate the consistent performances of Mauricio Pochettino’s 2019 side, which managed to reach the UEFA Champions League final, secure a fourth-place league finish and make the semi-finals of the League Cup.
The new Spurs boss believes that meaningful progress would be his side proving themselves across all competitions, and showing they belong at the highest level week in, week out.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Jermaine Pennant shared his thoughts on the appointment, suggesting Frank is the kind of manager players can connect with both on and off the pitch.
He said: “He seems like a manager who you can relate to with a bit of banter, easy to talk to. The way he had Brentford playing shows on and off the pitch as well. Hopefully for Spurs, he can bring that with him and hopefully get the best out of these Spurs lot.”
When asked what sort of philosophy Frank would bring and whether he can build on the Europa League success, Pennant added: “They can do because he is a good manager, like I said, you saw how good Brentford were, how hard and difficult they were to beat, especially at home, nobody really liked to go there.
“I think Spurs have kind of lost that little bit of identity. Going there, you always thought you could get a result over them, whereas this guy will come in, he will put a good store down. He will get a good idea of how to play, some good signings, especially to get Gibbs-White, if they can get that one over the line as that will take them on to a new little elevation and dimension in attacking senses, because they have been lacking and goals for a long time now.
“Ange was just on the front foot at times, attacking and sometimes you have got to read the game. Sometimes you have got to sit back and just soak up a bit of pressure and then a bit of counter attack rather than putting your defenders on the halfway line and hoping that you catch them on the offside. You cannot play that way in the Premier League, week in, week out, and not get punished.
“Thomas Frank knows the Premier League. He knows how to play against different teams and set up different formations. He will bring that knowledge, bring that expertise. I think Tottenham, have signed a good manager.”
⚪ “Thomas Frank is a good guy, seems like a good man!”
👀 “Spurs have been lacking in goals for a long time!”Jermaine Pennant claims Thomas Frank will not win a trophy in first season at Tottenham!#talkSPORT #Spurs pic.twitter.com/dluDV5sj6I
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) July 19, 2025
Jermaine Pennant doubts Spurs silverware chances under Frank
Frank will naturally be looking to oversee a major turnaround, taking Tottenham from last season’s 17th-place finish to challenging for a top-six spot, and if a trophy arrives along the way, that would certainly count as a successful first season in charge.
However, Jermaine Pennant is not convinced that silverware is on the cards just yet. The former winger believes this campaign will be one of transition, rather than glory.
When asked directly if Spurs could win another trophy this season, he told talkSPORT: “Oh, no, no. I think it is too early. They are going to need a good lot of changes and some new players. I think the European Championship [Europa League] that they won was probably one of the worst that we have all seen, it was two bad teams.
“They cannot get any worse, because if they do, they will get relegated. They were seventeenth last season, they will do better, but this season, I cannot see him [Frank] challenging for or winning any silverware. They have got over that hoodoo, they have got the silverware in the cabinet now, and now they can just start to build.”
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