Premier League
Tottenham Part Company with Thomas Frank Amid Mounting Relegation Concern
Tottenham have dismissed Thomas Frank after poor results left the club 16th, and five points adrift.
Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed the dismissal of manager Thomas Frank. The club published a statement on social media, saying: “Thomas was appointed in June 2025, and we have been determined to give him the time and support needed to build for the future together,” the club wrote on social media. “However, results and performances have led the board to conclude that a change at this point in the season is necessary.”
Frank, who was appointed in June 2025, leaves with a record of seven wins from 26 Premier League matches in charge. Tottenham sit 16th in the Premier League table, five points clear of the relegation zone with 12 matches remaining. Their next fixture is at home to Arsenal on Sunday.
The reaction from supporters during Tuesday’s defeat was audible as sustained boos were directed at Frank and the players. Fans had made their displeasure clear as the club slipped into a position that brings the threat of relegation into real focus.
Frank had pleaded for more time to turn things around, adding: “I understand the fans’ frustration,” Frank confessed after the final whistle. “We are in a position we don’t want to be in and we are working very hard day and night to change.
“I also think it is a situation now the club has been in, it’s fair to say, for almost two years and at the end of last season as well—clearly a pattern that we struggle to manage Europe and the Premier League. It’s something me, the team, the club, the players we need to learn to do even better physically and mentally to deal with that.
“Part of that of course is the 11 injuries or 10 plus a suspension plus another one today which of course doesn’t help in a situation like that. Then we face a Newcastle team which is struggling a little bit lately, look at what they put out on the pitch, compared to what they have done in the last three years. I think it’s fair to say it’s quite different to us.”
He added: “I understand the mechanism in football, no doubt about that but there are a lot of studies that [sacking the manager] is not the right thing to do.
“I know it’s the only movement they have, but there’s also plenty of situations where it’s not the right thing to do. The only thing I’ll focus on is fighting, doing the right thing together with everyone else.”
The board’s decision came hours after another managerial target from last summer became available on the market.
Manchester United
Osula’s 90th-Minute Strike Hands Newcastle a 2-1 Win as Carrick’s United Fall Short
United 2-1 defeat: Osula 90′ winner; Casemiro equaliser; Ramsey sent off in stoppage time and drama
Michael Carrick suffered his first defeat in charge as Manchester United were beaten 2-1 by Newcastle United on Wednesday. William Osula produced the decisive moment in the 90th minute, cutting inside from the right and bending a clinical strike into the far bottom corner.
Newcastle set the tone early, pressing with intensity that unsettled United. The visitors squandered a number of openings in the first 20 minutes, flashing the ball wide, before United gradually established more control. The match turned in first-half stoppage time when Ramsey was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for simulation in the penalty area. Moments later the game saw quickfire goals at either end as Gordon and Casemiro both found the net.
The second half lacked rhythm at first but opened up as the match progressed. Leny Yoro missed a significant opportunity at 1-1 and had a header denied by Aaron Ramsdale. Ramsdale also denied substitute Joshua Zirkzee shortly before Osula’s winner.
United remain third in the Premier League, ahead of Aston Villa. The defeat was a missed chance to increase the cushion on Liverpool in sixth in the race to the Champions League, after the Merseysiders lost on Tuesday.
Casemiro, already confirmed to be leaving at the end of the season, again showed his on-field value. The Brazilian glanced a header beyond Aaron Ramsdale despite registering just 0.06 in xG across his 61 minutes. He produced numerous defensive contributions, searched for forward passes and was strong in the air. That headed equaliser was recorded as his 36th goal involvement since joining the club. Elsewhere, Elliot Anderson scored a late equaliser for Nottingham Forest against Pep Guardiola’s City. Anderson has been linked as a possible replacement, with reported figures that could climb to $133.7 million (£100 million).
Player ratings
GK: Senne Lammens—6.8: Stood little chance on either goal and didn’t have to do that much else.
RB: Noussair Mazraoui—6.7: A first start since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations in January and put in a hard shift. Appeared to leave the game with a knock.
CB: Leny Yoro—6.8: His game is ultimately judged on defending, but a big miss at 1–1 might have been costly.
CB: Harry Maguire—6.7: Overcame recent illness to start just hours after his retrial in Greece ended in a second conviction. Arguably hesitated as Osula was shaping to shoot.
LB: Luke Shaw—6.4: Another who passed a late assessment to make this game.
CM: Casemiro—7.3: Made an important block early on, before his headed equalizer was a remarkable 36th goal involvement since joining the club. Off after just over an hour.
CM: Kobbie Mainoo—6.7: Barely misplaced a pass but didn’t have enough of the ball in the right areas to hurt Newcastle.
RM: Bryan Mbeumo—6.5: Not his night, unusually. Guilty of firing his only shot over the bar from a good position.
AM: Bruno Fernandes (c)—8.1: Gave away the penalty when he caught Gordon in the box, yet made up for it moments later with the free kick that set up the equalizer. Created eight chances.
LM: Matheus Cunha—7.6: Asked questions of the Newcastle defense, even though the left wing is not his preferred position. Made defensive contributions too.
ST: Benjamin Šeško—5.8: Actually saw a bit more of the ball than he did against Crystal Palace, but that big chance he needed to keep his scoring run didn’t come this time.
Subs
Manuel Ugarte (61’ for Casemiro)—6.6; Diogo Dalot (61’ for Shaw)—6.3; Amad Diallo (76’ for Mainoo)—6.1; Joshua Zirkzee (76’ for Mbeumo)—6.6; Tyrell Malacia (85’ for Mazraoui)—N/A. Subs not used: Altay Bayındır (GK), Ayden Heaven, Goodwill Kukonki, Tyler Fletcher.
Match statistics
Possession: Newcastle 45% — Man Utd 55%
Expected Goals (xG): Newcastle 2.22 — Man Utd 1.28
Total Shots: Newcastle 12 — Man Utd 14
Shots on Target: Newcastle 5 — Man Utd 5
Big Chances: Newcastle 2 — Man Utd 4
Passing Accuracy: Newcastle 77% — Man Utd 82%
Fouls Committed: Newcastle 15 — Man Utd 16
Corners: Newcastle — Man Utd
Chelsea
How the next five fixtures will shape Man Utd, Liverpool and Chelsea’s top-five bids
Next five fixtures for Man Utd, Liverpool and Chelsea and how they could affect the top-five race…
Chelsea enjoyed the perfect midweek as their bid to qualify for the Champions League was completely re-energized. A midweek of surprises has compressed the table, leaving Liverpool in sixth and Man Utd in third with just three points separating four sides.
A top-five finish will almost certainly be enough for entry into next season’s Champions League and the next five Premier League games could have a drastic impact on who claims those positions.
Man Utd face Aston Villa (A) on March 15, Bournemouth (A) on March 20, Leeds (H) on April 13, Chelsea (A) on April 18 and Brentford (H) on April 27. Man Utd have the luxury of avoiding European and cup soccer for the remainder of the term, which reduces their midweek congestion compared with Chelsea and Liverpool.
Liverpool’s next five are Tottenham (H) on March 15, Brighton (A) on March 21, Fulham (H) on April 11, Everton (A) on April 19 and Crystal Palace (H) on April 25. Liverpool had been in resurgent form—well, results-wise at least—but their Tuesday night humiliation at Wolverhampton Wanderers rocked their Champions League qualification bid. The Reds have two opportunities to make amends before the March international break. Champions League and FA Cup matches come before the clash with Tottenham on March 15, with Liverpool seeking to do the double over their relegation-threatened visitors. On their return from the Premier League hiatus, Liverpool face Fulham at Anfield. Then comes the first Merseyside derby at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, a fixture that has yielded difficulties for Liverpool away at Everton over the past decade.
Chelsea’s schedule reads Newcastle (H) on March 14, Everton (A) on March 21, Man City (H) on April 12, Man Utd (H) on April 18 and Brighton (A) on April 26. The Blues will juggle European and cup fixtures alongside this run. The trip to Stamford Bridge from Newcastle is a tough test, and the return of league action sees Liam Rosenior’s men host title-chasing Manchester City followed by the clash with Man Utd. The clash with the Red Devils, which Chelsea lost earlier this term after yet another red card, could prove pivotal in the race for the top five.
Paris Saint-Germain
The Contemporary Centre Back: Profiles from 2023–26
Profiles of the modern centre back from 2023–26, highlighting strengths, flaws and leadership.
Finding elite centre backs remains one of football’s toughest tasks. Across the last three seasons a clear group has emerged, each offering different traits that matter at the very top.
Cristian Romero is a defender of pure intensity. He “throws himself into tackles,” dominates aerially and has delivered trophies on big stages: a World Cup, two Copa Américas and a Europa League with Tottenham. That raw passion often produces decisive moments, but it also brings reckless fouls and needless bookings that limit his standing among the very best.
Sporting CP’s back-to-back Liga Portugal titles in 2023–24 and 2024–25 owed as much to Ousmane Diomande as to the goals of Viktor Gyökeres. Young and authoritative, Diomande leads Sporting’s back three with speed, aerial power and anticipation, though occasional positioning lapses and temper remain to be ironed out.
Dean Huijsen’s rapid rise from a loan at AS Roma to a Spain international and Real Madrid prospect highlights his calmness, technical comfort and willingness to carry the ball forward. At 6’5″ he combines presence with composure and looks like a long-term defensive investment.
Micky van de Ven’s ceiling is limited only by his fitness. When healthy his exceptional pace makes him almost impossible to beat. Similarly, Malick Thiaw adapted quickly to the Premier League after his 2025 move to Newcastle, offering athleticism, intelligence and set-piece threat in a defence ravaged by injuries.
Antonio Rüdiger and Ibrahima Konaté provide high-energy, physical leadership, while Jonathan Tah’s consistency at Leverkusen earned a long-awaited Bayern move. Gleison Bremer’s absence through an ACL tear underlined his importance to Juventus when fit.
Other profiles include Piero Hincapié’s front-foot pressing, Nico Schlotterbeck’s progressive defending at Dortmund, Manuel Akanji’s chess-like reading of the game, and Marquinhos as PSG’s organising heartbeat. Joško Gvardiol summed up his approach plainly: “I’m happy to be back to my position,” and “Just play simple, protect the goal, defend the goal.”
At Barcelona, Pau Cubarsí combines calm possession and tactical nous; at Crystal Palace Marc Guéhi provided the defensive base for historic club success; Willian Pacho’s 2025 Champions League final intervention illustrated his speed and bravery; and Virgil van Dijk remains, in form, the standard of the position: “I wouldn’t even bother, I’m just too good” was once his defiant line on the pitch.
