Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank found himself at the centre of one of the more unusual stories of the English Premier League this week – and it came long before the final whistle of his team’s match at Bournemouth.
Frank was photographed holding and drinking from a coffee cup with the Arsenal crest on it. The image quickly went viral on social media and sparked plenty of reaction from supporters and pundits alike.
The picture caused a stir because of the intense rivalry between Spurs and Arsenal. But Frank was quick to explain what happened in the post-match press conference after Tottenham’s 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth on Wednesday, January 7.
“I definitely did not notice it. It would be completely stupid of me to take it if I knew,” said the Spurs boss.
“It’s a little bit sad in football that I need to be asked about it. I would never do something that stupid.
“I think we’re definitely going in the wrong direction if we need to worry about me having a cup with a logo of another club.”
According to reports, the cups had been left behind at Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium by Arsenal, who had played there earlier in the week.
A Spurs staff member gave him the coffee as part of his pre-match routine. Neither Frank nor anyone in the Spurs camp noticed the Arsenal logo until pictures began circulating.
Tottenham stumble at the Vitality
The cup mishap was largely forgotten on the pitch, where Tottenham suffered another late loss, conceding a stoppage-time winner.
The defeat left Spurs down in 14th in the Premier League and intensified frustration around the club. Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo scored the dramatic 95th-minute winner, capping what is likely his final game for the Cherries before a big-money move to Manchester City.
Off the field, Spurs fans were left divided over the cup incident. Some treated it as an amusing accident. Meanwhile, others saw it as yet another sign of poor judgment during a difficult campaign.
The image fuelled criticism aimed at Frank. He already faces pressure from supporters unhappy with Spurs’ inconsistent form, as they sit 14th in the table.
As Spurs prepare for their next fixtures, including an FA Cup tie against Aston Villa, as Frank insisted, the focus will be on results and performance.
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