Every word Thomas Frank said on Xavi Simons, more transfers and Tottenham injury news

There was plenty Thomas Frank could and couldn't yet say at his Tottenham Hotspur press conference on Friday afternoon ahead of the Premier League match against Bournemouth.

The Dane was in high spirits after a perfect start to the Premier League season at Tottenhamwith five goals, two clean sheets and maximum points from the games against Burnley and Manchester City. Frankis also set to get a boost with the soon to be announced €60million (£52million) transfer of Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig.

The deal for the 22-year-old Netherlands international was not quite done yet before his press conference so Frank had to fend off plenty of questions about the former PSG starlet's arrival. The Tottenham boss also delivered an update on the latest injury news within the squad with Destiny Udogie back in contention, and Frank spoke about a first England call-up for Djed Spence.

Our Spurs correspondent Alasdair Gold was among those putting the questions to Frank. Here's a full transcript from the press conference at Hotspur Way.

What's the latest team news?

We got a new English national team player in Djed Spence. Isn’t that team news? You’re surprised, you didn’t expect that.

Wow. How good is that? Big credit to Djed. He truly deserves it. It has been a tough, not tough, what a journey to have it at 24/25 years old this year. Being called up I don’t think many saw that coming.

He had a good end to last season. He had a top pre-season. He played very well in the three games against PSG, Burnley and Man City. Really giving a lot to the team. I’m so happy for him.

What can you tell us about Xavi Simons signing?

I can confirm that we are working very hard to get someone over the line. That I can confirm but right now I am happy to speak more about Djed and other players that are inside the Tottenham squad.

Will the fans get good news later today?

I hope they get good news later today for various reasons because we are trying to sign players and that we will try to do until the end of the transfer window. I have said many times in these press conferences that we are out there in the market and we will try to see if we can improve the squad but only if we can improve the squad. If not, I'm happy with the players and they are working hard.

What is happening with Yves Bissouma?

The squad news is also that Bissouma can’t make the game tomorrow and right now it is the same. Bissouma is a Tottenham player.

Have you fallen in love early with Tottenham?

Let me put it this way, I’m very happy here. I knew that before it was a great club but getting to know the players, fans, staff, I’m very happy here.

Could Destiny Udogie return from injury tomorrow?

Yes, he could. Thank you for that question. Destiny will be in the squad tomorrow so that is a positive.

Is it in Djed Spence’s mentality to overcome setbacks?

I think Djed is a fantastic example for a lot of players. Not only here at Tottenham but also other places that anything is possible if you are resilient. If you can get through the tough spells that are in football and life. Be very disciplined, keep going, training very well, keep believing in your abilities, keep going even if it’s on very rainy day. I think that is big credit to him and a great example. Those stories I think we should appreciate and be happy for.

How highly do you rate your midfield options?

Let me put it this way, I think we’ve got a very good midfield. I like the six midfielders we have in Archie, Lucas, Bissouma, Joao, Rodri and Pape. Very happy with them. No doubt we have that creativity in Maddison and Kulusevski that is out now. So I think that’s very transparent that they are out. So of course that’s a skillset we need to find either in some other players like Kudus, or Wilson or Matty. So I think the midfield is strong. And again, can we sign something that will improve the squad? We’ll be happy.

Are your coaching skills better than you thought or is the squad better than you thought?

I think both the squad is fantastic and I’m fantastic, so I think that’s very simple! No, we have a strong plan to try to win tomorrow again against Bournemouth. We’ve got a big belief in doing it, we’re facing a very good time. Iraola has done a top job and his coaching staff. They’ve just lost what four of their back five including the keeper for this season and just continue producing good performances. I watched their game live against Liverpool, I’ve watched it one more time over the last two days. They were very good, they could have easily got something out of that game against the champions.

They play very through the lines and behind you, so it’s very difficult to defend and difficult to press them because they go over the top or behind us, or against every team. They’re a really, really difficult team to play against. They had a fantastic season last year. So we need to show them huge respect and we need to show huge respect in the defensive side of the game. Be very good in that aspect because I’m convinced that we will create something. But if we don’t run and we don’t defend and don’t show the respect, we’ll have massive problems tomorrow against Bournemouth. If we do that, come out with that energy and positive feeling we have, then I’m very confident we can win the game. But I’m very aware that we’re going to a difficult task.

You swap systems between games and within games - how much is that your philosophy and how difficult is that for players?

“I think the big thing I’m very clear on the principles we have in terms of how we want to play. Let’s say high pressure, I’m big on the man-man. Let’s say defending low, there’s some zonal principles to defending the box. But also how we want to attack there’s also some key principles there. But then I think you can tweak it a little bit with the systems. You can also tweak it in a system with different positions and different players in different positions. That I’m very open about and with the coaching staff backing me we hopefully find good solutions.

What are your thoughts on the Champions League draw and how do you manage expectations with the Premier League and Champions League?

That's a good question. Right now I am 100 per cent focused on doing our best to win tomorrow and if we can win it'll be a fantastic start to a new season. Then a lot of the players, actually all of them will go away to play for their countries and hopefully make their countries proud and their families.

I'll take a break and then we'll be ready to kick on again and I'm definitely looking forward to what's happening after that.

Richarlison has been called up to the Brazil squad, how pleased are you for him and how important is it that they manage his fitness carefully as the club have?

Very happy for Richy. I think it's well deserved, he's started the season very strongly. Three strong games, three strong performances, so he can carry into the game tomorrow. And of course, to play for Brazil is big and I think it's good they play, the more the play, the fitter they will get and then the stronger they will be, so I think that's positive.

What are the timelines for Yves Bissouma's injury and when Radu Dragusin will be back in training?

I think with Bissouma, one thing for sure, he's out for the next game and then the specific timeline I'm a little bit in doubt of because I don't think it'll be that long. Dragusin is on the way back and he's been running for a while. I think he should join the team in a week's time, 10 days' time, I think that's the thing, so that's positive, but of course it is an ACL. I'm always a little bit more, not worried but just aware that it takes time. When you've been out of football for nine months, you know, you need to get in. It's not enough to have a six-week pre-season. You need to take a little bit more time, but it's positive and and some surprise and come back quicker, of course.

This might be the last time we get to speak to you before you name your Champions League squad and in the past, Spurs have had some issues with the European squad and having too many players, have you got some decisions on your hands over who might have to be left out?

As I understand it, we still have a minor challenge there, so of course that decision will be made in due time.

How did you find out that Djed had been called up and have you spoken to him directly about it?

We found out that, when it was announced that 12pm, so luckily we started training 12, so someone came out straight after. He, as I understood it received a text earlier today. So of course, I congratulated him in front of the players and there was applause and hugs and everything and I spoke to him after and said 'well deserved and I hope you enjoy it. Let's keep up the good level and keep the focus for the game tomorrow and then go in and enjoy being part of the England squad'. Then I asked if he was going in to call his family and he was about to do that.

What specific qualities do you want from someone who plays in the central attacking midfield role, whether that's someone new or someone who is already in the squad?

I think it depends a little bit on the game. Because let's say we play away to City, and I think depending the game and the other players around because you can have two very offensive-minded sitters who are very forward going and then you maybe need more of a runner in a ten.

Then you can have three front players where they are unbelievable runners or one of them is a little bit more creative. So I think I'm not looking in one specific position what I want from the 10 position, because what I want for that position, I don't think it's possible to get him because he would be a running machine, pressing machine, unbelievably creative, can do headers, can put it in the top corner, a lot of tap-ins, you know, that would be the perfect player and there are not too many of those players. So I need to be a little bit pragmatic and if we have a very, let's say offensive 10, then maybe we need a little bit behind. If we don't have that, then we need a little bit, you know, the construction of the midfield I would say.

You like players that can play multiple positions, is ever a point where they must stick to one role?

I think when you see players perform their best, most likely they play in one position whether that is 10, right-wing, or striker, centre-back, although these days centre-backs also play as a full-back and some midfields play 10, sometimes they play 6. I think when they go towards their peak, that is when they should settle into a position, but that is not to same if they can’t play across a front four or front three. The modern football is much more flexible now and the front three now need to play on the wing and the striker.

There's a certain player from Amsterdam on the other side of the building and you can feel excitement in the place and yourself, how happy are you to be very close to signing a brilliant player?

I think that we are close to signing someone, but let’s see. As I say, just as a go-to and to make it so much easier, I speak about our players and very happy to do that at Brentford and I’ve kept it consistently. I will be very boring in that and just say I want to just speak about the players in-house and anyone else outside of our team I will not speak about unless it is Messi and Ronaldo. And the good thing is they are soon both retiring.

You said you pushed for a third at Man City, is that your natural tendency or are you trying to align with the club’s philosophy?

I think I would always say I had an offensive mindset as a coach. Always tried to push to play more offensive, always tried to go for the next goal and I agree it aligns perfect with the club’s values and the history of the club. I had it since I started as a young coach in the youth system at Brondby, but when I came to Brentford it went up a notch. I know it is not a big club but the ownership with Matthew (Benham) and Phil (Giles) and Rasmus were big on that. All the statistics said if you go for the next goal, it’s more likely you get the three points instead of being too defensive.

That also just aligned and because they were so big on it as well there was a lot of discussions and thought-process behind it. Also your subs, what do you do? Do you sub a striker for a midfield or do you sub a striker for a striker? That is offensive so you go for the goal. Of course you know sometimes we change and I have no problem changing to a 5-3-2 because you still have two strikers on the pitch or no problem being more offensive with the three. It all depends but I will definitely always go for the goal.

The Champions League draw was last night – some big teams, familiar teams for the squad and a Danish club, what did you make of it?

Overall I thought OK draw. Sometimes with draws they can look very bad on paper or very good, but at the end of the day it is how we perform against these teams. We know with Champions League, for every team no matter if PSG or Dortmund or a club that is not as big like Slavia or Copenhagen, we know it’s the biggest game of the season so it will be tough. Of course I am happy there was Copenhagen. I thought that would be good. I wanted them at Parken, but probably more difficult if I am honest. It will be difficult no matter what but it is nice when you have good colleagues and you face them.