Spurs 1-0 Villarreal | Every word of Thomas Frank's press conference

Thomas Frank spoke to the media at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after our 1-0 win against Villarreal in MD1 of the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night.

Here's what he had to say...

Q1: Congratulations on your first Champions League win, what did you make of the match?

Thomas: "Thank you. I thought it was a big win. In any competition it's good to get three points and get a good start. I'm happy with that. I'm happy with the clean sheet. I'm happy with the defensive side of the game. I think we were extremely good and limited Villarreal to very little throughout the game. They were a good team I really admire. Obviously, offensively, we struggled on the day to create something against a good team. They also defended very well, which we knew in the 4-4-2 structure. They were very aggressive. When we were on the day, I think, they needed the highest level in terms of touch, passes and decision-making, and they nailed that. Then it was a very even game that we edged in the end. What I like is that our foundation is strong. Now we are four games won, three in the Premier League, one in the Champions League, and we have four sheets, which is massive. Obviously, we are building the offensive structure more and more. Xavi Simons has just come into the club. It's fair to say he and Djed need a little relationship, of course, to get going. No complaints, it's just natural. I think there was a spell in the second half where we decided to give the ball away every single time we had it. We gave the ball away, let's bring it back. Oh, give it away, let's bring it back. Of course, it's a little bit easier to sit here with a smile, but of course, at that level, we will raise of course."

Were you worried about the Micky van de Ven foul?

"Of course, just at the moment, it didn't look top. Sometimes, I can clearly see penalties and yellow cards when it's going our way. This time, there was a little bit of need to hope. But when I've seen it back, clearly, outside our box, clearly he's a little bit in front. It's a free kick and a zero call."

In that first half, the plan was clearly to go wide to Kudus and Xavi at every possibility, and it caused an awful lot of problems, but in terms of getting midfield runners to go past Richarlison, was that something in the first half that you probably didn't get? 

"Yeah, I think actually we got some good runs from Lucas and Pape on the sides. When we were a little bit deeper, I think that worked okay. I think it was too few times that we got it high enough and got played a run and produced the crosses we wanted. That was probably the thing that didn't edge enough throughout the game. But there were actually quite a few situations where we got both to Kudus and to Xavi where we didn't produce what we should."

On Xavi, very effective in the first half, caused an awful lot of damage, but in the second half, really, he didn't really have the same effect as in the first half?

"No, I think there could be many, many reasons. I also think there were three, four, five times where he should have had the ball quicker to create something. But around the day, it was just unfortunate."

The Champions League is tough, a step up in quality. Does this stand you in good stead?

"Yeah, I agree with you, the Champions League is unbelievably tough. It was a very good team we faced today and managed to get out of a very tight game as winners. With that feeling that you fight and run and you do a lot of things as a group together, and then get out on top and win, it's exceptionally good. It just builds that extra foundation, extra layers. And sometimes [when] you can't hit the highest level, and still get away with a win, in an even game, I think it's fantastic."

You're winning games with clean sheets, were you pushing for that when you joined?

"This team, these players, we will score goals. There's no doubt of that. I know we only scored an own goal today, but we will score goals, I'm not in doubt of that. I think the big thing was that we needed to defend better. So we worked very, very hard on structure, key principles, recovery runs. Doing the tough job, that gives you a top opportunity to win games, and we've proven that so far."

Xavi Simons fouling on a yellow, was your heart in your mouth?

"Yeah, maybe, I haven't looked into it. I think there was one on that transition you could maybe discuss. Just because it looks dangerous it can't be a yellow all the time. But of course I understand why you ask the question. So, yeah."

With the midfield, so many options, is that the key to unlocking that creativity, getting that mix right?

"Yes, and how do we get gelling, it's when you get good relationships. So I think, for example, on the right side, Pedro and Kudus, they definitely have something going. I think Lucas came over to that side, it looks right. I think on the left side, Xavi and Djed, good against West Ham, but it's not 100% in sync when maybe it's not going, as an example. We gave so many times the ball away, where we could have played it more second half, which just happens sometimes."

What did you make of the goal?

"I was just happy when I finally saw it rolling over the line and into the back of the net. I think it was actually well played on the side from Lucas, to put the cross in."

What did you make of the first half penalty shouts?

"I actually haven't seen them back yet. What I heard from my bench was they were probably softer ones, both of them."