Tottenham vs Chelsea: ‘Few quid’ part of fixtures headache, Frank says before ‘special’ Premier League match

Thomas Frank says football “definitely” needs to “look at” a schedule partly driven by money and demand – but wants Tottenham to come “flying out” against Chelsea in the Premier League.

Manager Frank’s Spurs, who exited the EFL Cup with a 2-0 last-16 defeat at Newcastle on Wednesday, will attempt to secure successive league wins for the first time since August 23 at home to the Blues before Copenhagen arrive in the league phase of the Champions League on Tuesday.

“It’s impossible to play 60 games [a season for] 90 minutes [at] high intensity,” said Frank, who is in his first season as a manager in Europe and is about to oversee a run of seven matches in 31 days.

“All of us love football when there’s been, let’s say, an international break and then we come back and start again, a little bit fresher… it’s exciting.

“I don’t know the answer to it, because it’s a pretty popular sport and there’s a few quid in it. So [it’s] probably [affected by] a little bit of demand from the broadcasters.”

Spurs injuries vs Chelsea

Defenders Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie are expected to return for Spurs against Chelsea, as is winger Wilson Odobert.

Centre-back Kota Takai is close to a training comeback but midfielder Dejan Kulusevski remains out and forward Dominic Solanke will not be available until at least the trip to Arsenal on November 23, Frank said.

“If you can avoid muscle injuries – hamstring, calf, quads, stuff like that – because of a good gym programme, recovery, the right way to train, the right processes, then I think you’re halfway there,” the Dane observed of his attempts to retain a fully fit squad.

“Then there are the contact injuries you really can’t avoid and then the return to play again. That time from when they get injured to when they came back to training are the two bits you need to nail.

“We have been quite good on soft tissue muscle injuries, which I’m very pleased with. Now it’s just with contact injuries and some odd injuries. We need to get the return-to-play time down.”

Tottenham vs Chelsea: Frank ‘positive’

Tottenham have won one of their last 12 meetings with Chelsea in all competitions and lost each of their last four, including a 4-3 home defeat last season despite moving 2-0 ahead after 11 minutes.

“I can’t wait,” said Frank, predicting a “fantastic” and “unique and special” occasion. “The players are really looking forward to it.

“Can we get energy off the fans? Then it’s like some positive reinforcement, and that’s what we need to create. We’re really looking forward to it.

“Hopefully, we’ll be part of a game everyone will remember when we come out on the winning side. There’s so much on it against a very good Chelsea team.

“It will be a very, very competitive, even game. Under the floodlights, it’s got everything to be a top game where you will be on the edge of your seat, hopefully, if you’re a fan or a part of it.”

Premier League fixtures this weekend

Tottenham will start Saturday in third, five points behind leaders Arsenal and three ahead of ninth-placed Chelsea.

All matches start at 15:00 GMT / 11:00 ET / 09:00 PT unless otherwise stated.

Saturday, November 1

Brighton and Hove Albion vs Leeds United

Burnley vs Arsenal

Crystal Palace vs Brentford

Fulham vs Wolves

Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United

Tottenham vs Chelsea (17:30)

Liverpool vs Aston Villa (20:00)

Sunday, November 2

West Ham vs Newcastle (14:00)

Manchester City vs Bournemouth (16:30)

Monday, November 3

Sunderland vs Everton (20:00)