Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank, like any coach, has his favorites, and one of his favorite forwards appears to be Richarlison. Although Spurs were expected to shop the Brazilian striker after another injury plagued and disappointing 2024/25 season, Frank advocated on behalf of the former Everton star, who was actually slated to potentially reunite with the Toffees, and keep him around for another season as a potential starter.
And with Dominic Solanke hurt, Richy actually began the season as the nailed on starting striker. He played pretty well, too, but, as ever, quickly fizzled out. Although some Spurs fans point to a decent goal scoring record of 6 Premier League goals in 15 appearances (9 starts) as reason to praise him, the rest of the fan base knows that Richy has been too one dimensional and invisible to be a valid option.
While Solanke remains out of commission due to injury, loan signing Randal Kolo Muani has clearly lapped Richarlison in every regard. Spurs fans are begging for him to be the only starter at striker, with the occasional sprinkling of young forward Mathys Tel at the 9, as his trio of goal contributions against reigning Champions League winners PSG (Kolo Muani's parent club, by the way) effectively sealed his status as the king of the 9 at Spurs.
Thomas Frank implicitly snubs Randal Kolo Muani
However, the latest quote from Thomas Frank praising Richarlison seems to point in the direction of the Danish manager remaining somewhat married to the idea of Richy being a key player for him at the striker position.
Frank said at a press conference prior to Tottenham facing Nottingham Forest and Sean Dyche in the Premier League this weekend, via Spurs official web site, "Three players I would like to mention of course. Richy is probably in, not in his best form ever maybe, but in a very good place and also physically. Mo Kudus is, after the great start to the season, a little dip and a minor injury, back in full energy, looking sharp. Xavi is performing at a good top level."
Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus were marquee young signings and are obviously the two most talented players in the Tottenham attack right now. The vast majority of Spurs fans would put in another new addition, Kolo Muani, as the third of the trio if they were to name a striker, but for Frank to pick Richarlison again is a bit of a surprise and a slap in the face to RKM, the superior player.