Tottenham Hotspur have so much more promise about them in the 2025/26 season with Thomas Frank at the helm, and that's not just because Spurs signed three great players in the summer transfer window in Xavi Simons, Joao Palhinha, and Mohammed Kudus.
The existing players are showing more hunger and potential under Frank, who is by far and away a superior tactical manager to predecessor Ange Postecoglou. The real hope is that the young footballers, especially the forwards, can become world-beaters slowly over time under Frank.
For his part, the new Tottenham manager is already intrigued by a pair of growing forwards in Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel, who came into the season with expectations but a lot of unknowns and were even criticized by some fans just weeks ago.
But after strong displays against Leeds followed by world-class performances for the prestigious French U21 team, Frank sounds highly intrigued to see what Odobert and Tel can do as a pair after the October international break.
Mathys Tel is making waves
Frank said at the press conference ahead of Sunday's fixture between Tottenham and Aston Villa, via Spurs Global:
“It was so nice to see them perform well for their country. They are both in a good rhythm.
I'm pleased with both of them in general. I think they are developing and taking steps in the right direction.”
Tel scored once and nearly twice against Leeds, and he is a player with a Bayern Munich pedigree who was a key part of the side that won the Europa League last season. Despite the inane criticisms from some Spurs fans, most people, Frank included, believe that he is a quality young player.
Odobert was another significant investment in the summer 2024 transfer window, and, together, he and Tel can be a dynamic duo for the next decade if developed properly. In view of Frank's success at developing talents at Brentford into Premier League stars like Bryan Mbeumo and Ivan Toney, you wouldn't want the U21 French duo in the hands of any other coach.
Frank's praise for Odobert and Tel is a hint that more minutes should be coming for the two as the 2025/26 Premier League season rolls on. The win over Leeds combined with this praise from Frank should be a sign of more starts, including for Tel and Odobert as a pair with Tel recently impressing at the striker position for Tottenham.