Thomas Frank previews Toon test in Seoul: “It will be hugely competitive”
Sat 02 August 2025, 10:00|
Tottenham Hotspur
Thomas Frank is looking to build on our performance against Arsenal when we take on Newcastle United at the World Cup Stadium in Seoul on Sunday (12noon UK).
Thomas was pleased with a number of aspects against the Gunners - not least the 1-0 win, and particularly our defensive structure - and is now looking for improvements in attacking areas.
Newcastle have been in Asia for a touch longer than us and after losing 3-2 against Arsenal in Singapore, were beaten 1-0 by Team K League in Suwon, Korea on Wednesday evening.
“I'm really looking forward to it,” said Thomas. “Newcastle are a very good team, very well coached by Eddie Howe and his coaching staff. I’ve always liked the way they’ve done it.
“It will be hugely competitive, a very good test for us. Hopefully we can build on the performance from Arsenal, and some of the bits we did well, we can build on - some of the high pressure, the middle pressure, but I also think in phase two, phase three, when we were up there, I’d like to see a little bit more, so that will be the next aim.”
As Thomas explained, it’s small steps throughout pre-season - the 42 days of preparation from 5 July to 15 August to make sure we’re ready for the Premier League opener against Burnley on 16 August - not forgetting we take on PSG in the UEFA Super Cup on 13 August.
“Yes, small steps, building these physical layers into the players. Also, you can see the classic one of replacing some players on 45 (minutes), 60, 75, 90 and you constantly push that, and in those games, you always want to get the principals in.
“From Reading, Luton to Arsenal, it was a little closer to what we want, but there is so much that we would like to build into the team (and that) will take a long time to get everything up to 100%, but there'll be things that will definitely be at a good level, and that’s what we’re building towards.”
