Thomas Frank’s mantra has always been to never to get too high or too low off the back of one result.
This core leadership principle, carried over from his time at Brentford, explains why he has not allowed himself to get whipped up in the frenzied chatter about his future.
But it also explains why, in the Dane’s mind, Tuesday’s win over Borussia Dortmund was important, but not wholly unexpected.
Big picture thinking has always been Frank’s strength, and while the pressure remains on him to get results, he feels Spurs have been getting progressively better even as they search for their first league win in five.
“It's not been through the roof all, but the last eight games there's much more consistency,” Frank told the press on Thursday, his message unchanged from before the Dortmund game.
Frank continues to assert that he has the trust of the board, and he claims the support he has felt from those above him has been “exceptional throughout” his seven months in charge.
Though, as chief executive, Vinai Venkatesham, outlined in his open letter to fans before last weekend’s defeat to West Ham: actions speak louder than words.
Failure to get a positive result against Burnley this weekend, and the pressure on Frank’s job will ramp up once again.
A depleted Spurs side, with Frank only able to name 11 senior outfield players in his squad, were mightily impressive even before Dortmund were reduced to 10 men.
Saturday’s trip to Turf Moor provides a different challenge, though, and one not necessarily offset by the return of several first-team players - midfielders Conor Gallagher, Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma are all in line for minutes after missing out against Dortmund.
On Tuesday, Spurs were afforded space they will not get against Burnley.
Scott Parker’s side are languishing in 19th position, but have built a reputation for being structured and disciplined.
Spurs will need variety and unpredictability to break down Burnley’s rigid setup, and they will miss the deep runs of Lucas Bergvall after he was ruled out for a prolonged period with an ankle injury.
Spurs’ injury problems continue to pile up, and Frank admits the club might be “cursed”, having lost a player to injury in each of their last five games in all competitions.
In positive news, Dominic Solanke and Destiny Udogie are back fit and available after coming through unscathed against Dortmund. The pair provided Spurs with balance and presence in midweek and will likely be called upon again despite not being fully match fit.
This weekend’s round of fixtures are the reverse of the opening day of the season. Back then, it all seemed so easy for Frank. Three goals and a clean sheet made for an enjoyable afternoon in the sunshine at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The mood has shifted dramatically since, and Frank knows his side have to back up their performance against Dortmund if he is to start to turn things around in north London.
