Troy Deeney takes swipe at Tottenham after controversial Arne Slot claim: ‘Look at where that’s got them’
Former Watford star Troy Deeney has stuck the boot into Thomas Frank’s Tottenham.
As the season enters its final few months, Tottenham boss Frank is under pressure to keep his job after an uninspiring start to life at the north London club.
Tottenham sacked his predecessor, Ange Postecoglou, following a wretched Premier League campaign, despite winning the Europa League.
But at present, Tottenham are faring little better under Frank, with Spurs just nine points above the relegation zone as they languish down in 14th.
And in light of Liverpool head coach Arne Slot weighing up the importance of playing attractive football versus winning trophies, ex-striker Deeney has aimed a dig at Spurs to hammer home his point.
Arne Slot’s playing style comments questioned as Tottenham savaged again
Liverpool boss Slot raised a few eyebrows ahead of Sunday’s clash with Manchester City when the Dutchman said the “biggest thing” you can win is to play the “nicest football to watch”.
This comes off the back of Liverpool winning the Premier League last season, but this term, there are a growing number of disgruntled Reds fans who are not too enamoured by their team’s style of play in 2025-26.
The former Feyenoord coach added: “Trophies is one thing but being a team, club or a manager that stands for good football, is in the long-term worth more.”
On the flip side, City boss Pep Guardiola said if you want to be a manager it is “best to win trophies”, otherwise you “don’t have the chance to play nice football”.
Now, Deeney has stressed that winning trophies should be a team’s number one goal. He referenced how Tottenham have “flapped” around over finding the right playing style but that hasn’t got them very far.
He wrote in The Sun: “Arne Slot has carried himself superbly since succeeding Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool – but dropped the ball big time this week. The Reds boss has claimed that playing the best football in the land is worth more than silverware, not at Liverpool.
“Nor at Manchester City, Arsenal or any other club with ambitions of being serial winners. Arsenal are on course to end their 22-year wait to win the Premier League this season but are being branded basic and boring. Will they care? Of course not.
“Tottenham have spent more than a decade flapping over the style they play and look where that has got them.”
Last season, many Tottenham fans pleaded with Postecoglou to adopt a more pragmatic approach at times, rather than always going hell for leather. While Tottenham did win the Europa League after beating Manchester United in the final, that wasn’t enough to save Postecoglou.
Now they have a more pragmatic, defensively-minded coach in Frank, Tottenham fans are grumbling once again.
- Read more: Tottenham fans should stop blaming Thomas Frank, someone else is at fault for their struggles
Tottenham have bigger concerns to worry about than playing style
Tottenham earned 2-2 comeback draw against City last Sunday but now they face another tough test against in-form United.
Former Spurs player Michael Carrick has won his opening three games in charge at the Red Devils, including statement victories over City and Arsenal. They sit fourth in the table, whereas Tottenham are 10 places back and 12 points adrift of Carrick’s side.
Tottenham have an excellent recent record against United, with Spurs unbeaten against the Old Trafford outfit in their last six league games (three wins and three draws).
While Tottenham are hardly the league’s great entertainers, they have bigger fish to fry. In addition to this United test, Spurs are without some key players due to injury.
After the City draw, where Tottenham came from two goals down, captain Cristian Romero said it was “disgraceful” that they were only able to field 11 fit senior players for that clash.
Indeed, they are without key players such as Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, and Mohammed Kudus, all of whom would enhance their attack.
Midfielders Lucas Bergvall and Rodrigo Bentancur are also injured, as are defenders Ben Davies and Pedro Porro. Never mind their playing style, Tottenham need their players back from injury. However, that may not save Frank if results nosedive again.