I was booed off by Tottenham fans – you don't feel like clapping them

Former Tottenham striker Peter Crouch believes Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence will “regret” snubbing Thomas Frank post-match.

Spurs supporters were not impressed with their team’s performance against Chelsea last weekend. Tottenham managed just one shot on target throughout the game compared to the Blues’ nine.

As the referee blew the full-time whistle, the stadium erupted with boos from the home fans. The players themselves clearly weren’t happy with their showing as they headed for the tunnel with their heads down.

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Thomas Frank walked onto the field to console his players but was ignored by van de Ven and Spence, a moment that quickly went viral. Both players have since apologised, and Crouch believes the two Spurs stars will “regret” their actions.

Peter Crouch was speaking exclusively to Paddy Power and said: “I'm glad both players have apologised. It just didn't look good. I've been on that pitch and I've been booed off by Spurs fans myself, and it's not a nice feeling.

"You don't feel like clapping the fans, but I feel like if the manager speaks to you in that manner [to applaud the fans] then it looked like it showed a lack of respect. In the cold light of day they'll look back and regret that.

"Thomas Frank played it down really well, and it happens all the time. It's happened previously with me with managers, but you get so heated up in the moment and in the game, so disappointed that you let yourself down."

Frank was quizzed on the awkward moment himself. The Spurs manager responded: “All the players are, of course, frustrated. They would like to do well, they would like to win, they would like to perform well, so I understand that.

"I think it is about which is difficult to be consistent in good times and in bad times. That is why I went around to the fans as I did. It is more fun when we win, I can tell you that.

"I understand why you ask the question, but I think that is one of the small issues. We have Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence, who are doing everything they can.

"They perform very well so far this season, and everyone is frustrated. We do things in a different way, so I don’t think it is a big problem."

The squad managed to bounce back from the difficult defeat quickly, comfortably beating Copenhagen 4-0 in the Champions League.

Any potential negative thoughts about van de Ven following his incident with Frank were squashed when the Dutch centre-back made a 79-yard run across the pitch to score what many pundits are already deeming the goal of the season.

Brennan Johnson opened the scoring in the first half before being shown a red card in the second 45. Wilson Odobert and Joao Palhinha also found the net.

Frank will now be preparing his team for a clash with Manchester United on Saturday at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Red Devils haven’t beaten Spurs since 2022. A win for Tottenham would take them to second place in the Premier League table ahead of the 3pm kick-offs.