Tensions flared at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night when Djed Spence appeared to snub Thomas Frank after Spurs’ 1-0 defeat to Chelsea, sparking widespread debate.
What initially looked like a brief post-match exchange quickly turned into a moment of visible frustration, which raised questions about dressing room unity and player management dynamics at Tottenham.
The incident happened moments after the final whistle, when cameras filmed Spence and teammate Micky van de Ven walking past Frank and refusing to shake his hand.
Both players looked visibly angry after a disappointing loss, but it was Spence’s reaction that attracted the most attention.
What Djed Spence told manager Thomas Frank
According to Daily Mail lip-reading expert Jeremy Freeman, the 24-year-old was heard saying: “I won’t… go away,” before rebuffing his manager’s attempts to hire him.
Freeman also suggested that Spence mumbled “leave me… aside” during the brief exchange, although that part of the dialogue was less clear.
The outburst of emotion came after a tense match in which Tottenham struggled to create chances as Chelsea’s tactical discipline frustrated the home side.
For Spence, who has recently broken into the England line-up and earned praise for his energetic displays, the defeat was clearly difficult to take.
Football journalist Oliver Holt described the exchange as “a worrying sign”, suggesting it could indicate growing tension within the team after a run of inconsistent results.
Have the Spurs defender and manager fallen out?
Yet Tottenham insiders insist the relationship between Frank and Spence remains professional, emphasizing that the two men share a mutual respect and a desire to move forward.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp added perspective, saying: “You want your players to show emotion. Djed is young, ambitious and clearly frustrated. The key now is how the manager deals with that, whether he turns that fire into motivation.”
Frank’s calm response suggests he is eager to draw a line under the incident, but all eyes will be on Tottenham’s next game to see how Spence reacts.
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