Thomas Frank Confirms No January Move for Randal Kolo Muani

Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has confirmed that there are no plans to send loan striker Randal Kolo Muani out of the club in January. The French forward, currently on loan from Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain, has been linked with a potential return to his former club Juventus this month.

Kolo Muani has reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with his role at Spurs, often being deployed on the wing rather than as a central striker. However, he made a strong case for his position by starting and scoring in Tottenham’s 2-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany on Wednesday.

Frank was clear when asked about the possibility of Kolo Muani leaving in January. “Yes. Next question,” he said during his pre-match press conference on Friday, indicating his confidence in the player.

The manager praised Kolo Muani’s performance in Germany, highlighting how the goal could boost the striker’s confidence after a challenging first half of the season. “I really hope this goal and the performance can give him some confidence to build from,” Frank said. “His qualities and abilities, I always liked them.”

He pointed out several key moments from the game, including Kolo Muani’s quick burst through the left side in the second minute and his well-taken goal in the six-yard box. “His ability to go in behind is something we’re seeing more of,” Frank added. “Sometimes you need the rhythm. He came with basically no pre-season, got injured, broke his jawbone, and then he got a little bit up to pace. We are not being free-floating, all that. Hopefully now we are on the right end of things and he can be better.”

All three of Kolo Muani’s goals this season have come in the Champions League, helping Tottenham advance to the round of 16 following their win over Frankfurt.

Xavi Simons Shows Signs of Improvement

Another player benefiting from the Champions League this season is Xavi Simons. The Dutch playmaker was the standout performer in Tottenham’s match against Eintracht Frankfurt, following a strong display against Borussia Dortmund the previous week.

However, Simons is still finding his footing in the Premier League, where he is adapting to the faster pace and physicality of English football. Frank acknowledged the challenges but believes the 22-year-old is showing signs of improvement as Spurs face a tough run of fixtures in the coming weeks.

“I think actually Xavi has been on a positive (trajectory) for a while, but there is no doubt that the pace and the physicality in the Premier League is higher than all the other clubs across Europe,” Frank said. “So, there is no doubt a bit of adaptation for him and Kolo (Muani), and then again, he has played Champions League two years in a row at Leipzig and in the Bundesliga, it is still something different. I think he is actually progressing and looking more and more dangerous.”

Tactical Adjustments Bring Positive Results

Frank has faced criticism from Spurs supporters for his playing style, and fan protests are expected to overshadow Sunday’s match against Manchester City. However, his recent tactical adjustments, including switching to a three-man defense in the last three games, have led to improved performances.

When asked if Simons had benefited from the new formation, Frank acknowledged that the shift allowed players to get into better positions. “There is definitely a lot of our players that look to come in the right positions in this formation,” he said. “So, it is all about that. How can we get them in their best positions for them to perform in the best possible way.”