Bournemouth defeat ‘extremely painful’ says under-fire Tottenham boss Frank as Iraola admits ‘it was’ Semenyo’s last game
Thomas Frank said Tottenham’s 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth courtesy of a 95th-minute Antoine Semenyo goal was “extremely painful”.
Spurs boss Frank is set to come under even more pressure from Spurs fans after the 14th-place side lost for the eighth time in the Premier League this season. They have now won just two of their last 12 league games.
Joao Palhinha’s stunning bicycle kick looked like rescuing a point for the visitors but Semenyo’s strike from distance handed the Cherries their first win in 11 games.
Frank told BBC Sport: “That’s football unfortunately. It’s extremely painful to be on the Tottenham side after the game.
“We put everything into the game, the boys worked really hard, the staff worked hard to come down here and try and get a result.
“We went 1-0 up, conceded two second-phase goals – especially the second one, we have to do much better.
“Then the second half the character and mentality, the focus to stay in the game and keep going against a difficult counter-attacking team was very pleasing to see.
“I thought we were closer to winning than Bournemouth were.”
Frank on January: ‘We are in the market’
Mohammed Kudus’ injury has left Spurs short on firepower and Frank said it was likely they would be in the market for new signings.
He added: “We are very much in the market and working very hard to do what we can to improve the squad.
“January is a tough window and we only want to get players in if they improve the team.”
Iraola: It was Semenyo’s last game
Victorious manager Andoni Iraola heaped praise on match-winner Semenyo, who looks set to sign off in the perfect style ahead of a proctracted £65million move to Manchester City.
The manager said: “We needed this one, we have been very close in the last games. Football can not every time go to the other side and today was the perfect moment, also for Antoine [Semenyo].
“To play the way he did, the commitment to help in whatever way until the last second. I think football has been fair and given him a lovely moment.”
On whether it was Semenyo’s last game for the club before moving to the Etihad, Iraola admitted: “I think it was, unluckily for us I think it was.
“He has been if not the best, one of the best I have coached. He has improved every single season. He has scored 10 goals in half a season and not even a number nine. It is not just the numbers but a lot of things – the physicality, the balls in the air and the defensive things. He will be a big miss.”