Steven Gerrard has told Tottenham Hotspur’s players that they must take a big responsibility for Thomas Frank’s sacking. Frank was sacked on Wednesday morning just hours after Spurs had been beaten 2-1 at home to Newcastle United.
The latest tumultuous result of Frank’s dismal reign resulted in Tottenham falling to 16th in the Premier League and made it two wins in 17 league fixtures. But Gerrard believes not all the blame can be placed at the door of the Dane, and Tottenham’s underperforming players not only have to take some responsibility, but some of them should be feeling guilty about how things have played out.
“I think it was a good appointment at the time, and I think he deserved the opportunity, as I thought he was outstanding at Brentford," he told TNT Sports.
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“It is a very different job, having said that, in terms of expectation and pressure. With all due respect, Brentford were new to the Premier Leagueabout survival and picking up enough wins to stay in the league, but I think they have evolved more than that under their new manager.
"But when you are manager ofTottenham, you are expected to win. You are following in the footsteps of (Jose) Mourinho and (Antonio) Conte and it is a different level of job.
“I just think they are not aligned as a club and I think the players have got to take big responsibility for this sacking.
“If I was a player now in the Tottenham dressing room sitting at home, I would feel guilty because I think from the off the players probably haven’t given Thomas Frank a chance collectively and consistently.
“And it is happening too many times now where the manager in these situations gets the blame and it is quite clear to me that there are a few underperforming, and he has had injuries, but there are a few in that Tottenham dressing room who need to have a long hard look at themselves, in my opinion.”
Asked why Frank might not have been given a chance, the former Liverpool captain replied: “Maybe he wasn’t a huge name, if you like. A name that comes with instant box office if you like, like your (Thomas) Tuchels, Mourinhos or Contes – all these types of names.
"But as a player, he deserved that opportunity to be the Tottenham manager and I think collectively they have let him down."
John Heitinga, Robbie Keane and Roberto De Zerbi have all been mentioned as potential replacements, and Gerrard believes Spurs need to hire a manager who will get instant respect from the players.
He said: “They need someone who is going to get instant respect from the players and from the top of the club; they need to give this manager time and the chance to build something that is going to be competitive at the top end of the league.
“If they keep swapping and changing, it is impossible for the players to get into any rhythm. What is the DNA? What is the project? Where is it going?
“Because if it keeps changing all the time, managers have different ideas and different ways of playing. As a player, you don’t know if you are coming or going.”
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