Frank Finds it 'Difficult to Enjoy' Being Spurs Head Coach

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur - GTech Community Stadium, London, Britain - January 1, 2026 Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank applauds fans after the match REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
Soccer Football - Premier League - Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur - GTech Community Stadium, London, Britain - January 1, 2026 Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank applauds fans after the match REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
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Frank Finds it 'Difficult to Enjoy' Being Spurs Head Coach

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur - GTech Community Stadium, London, Britain - January 1, 2026 Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank applauds fans after the match REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
Soccer Football - Premier League - Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur - GTech Community Stadium, London, Britain - January 1, 2026 Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank applauds fans after the match REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Manager Thomas Frank likens his time at Tottenham Hotspur to running a gruelling marathon, saying he is trying to push through a "heavy mile" now that he hopes will pay dividends in the long run.

After their scoreless draw at Brentford on Thursday, Spurs are 12th in the standings with just one win in their last four league games.

During the stalemate, there were chants of "Boring, boring Tottenham" from fans, and Frank was greeted with a chorus of boos when he went to applaud ⁠travelling supporters.

Asked if he was enjoying his time in charge of Tottenham, Frank told reporters on Friday: "When you need to put in a big, big shift and it’s not smooth and it’s tough, it’s probably difficult to enjoy it.

"If I run hard I don't enjoy that ⁠moment but I know I need to keep my head down and run hard to get through it. We are in a situation where you need to run hard, to stay in it.

"When we look back on this spell or maybe this first year when it was tough, you'll think: 'What a learning, what an experience, it made us so much better for the future.' So the short answer is: no. The ⁠reality is you can't."

According to Reuters, the Danish manager said he understood the frustrations of fans and believed success would change their attitude.

"When I put myself out of it and look down, I think: ‘What a privilege to be in charge of this fantastic club in a period where it's a big transition'," Frank said.

"It's definitely a marathon and it definitely seems like it's one of the more heavy miles I'm on now, but head down and keep going."

On Sunday, Spurs host seventh-placed Sunderland.



Morocco Coach Demands 'Humility' Against AFCON Outsiders Tanzania

Morocco’s head coach, Walid Regragui, reacts during the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 group stage match between Morocco and Zambia in Rabat, Morocco, 29 December 2025.  EPA/JALAL MORCHIDI
Morocco’s head coach, Walid Regragui, reacts during the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 group stage match between Morocco and Zambia in Rabat, Morocco, 29 December 2025. EPA/JALAL MORCHIDI
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Morocco Coach Demands 'Humility' Against AFCON Outsiders Tanzania

Morocco’s head coach, Walid Regragui, reacts during the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 group stage match between Morocco and Zambia in Rabat, Morocco, 29 December 2025.  EPA/JALAL MORCHIDI
Morocco’s head coach, Walid Regragui, reacts during the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 group stage match between Morocco and Zambia in Rabat, Morocco, 29 December 2025. EPA/JALAL MORCHIDI

Morocco coach Walid Regragui warned his team to keep their feet on the ground as the host country go into Sunday's Africa Cup of Nations last-16 tie against rank outsiders Tanzania as overwhelming favorites.

"We need to be humble. For us in Morocco, for the coaching staff and the players, this has to be the AFCON of humility," Regragui told reporters Saturday on the eve of the tie at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in the capital Rabat.

"Everyone says if Morocco don't win the AFCON it will be a failure, that if we don't win easily it is a failure.

"My job is to keep everyone's feet on the ground and remind everyone that we haven't won the AFCON for 50 years."

Morocco are Africa's leading side in the FIFA rankings in 11th place and the 2022 World Cup semi-finalists are under massive pressure to make the most of home advantage to win the Cup of Nations for the first time since 1976.

It would be a shock of seismic proportions if they failed to beat a Tanzania side ranked a lowly 112th in the world.

Tanzania have two of Africa's leading club sides in Simba and Young Africans, who have both reached the CAF Confederation Cup final in recent seasons.

But their national team has reached the AFCON knockout stages for the first time at the ongoing edition, despite still never having won a game at the tournament.

"We have to respect Tanzania, because they have been qualifying regularly, they have two huge clubs and they are bringing through young players," AFP quoted Regragui as saying.

"I have always repeated that there are no easy opponents. We will be at home, playing in front of almost 68,000 fans, but it is a knockout tie and anything can happen in these games."

Tanzania, who will co-host the 2027 Cup of Nations with East African neighbors Kenya and Uganda, reached the last 16 as one of the best third-placed sides in the group stage.

They lost narrowly to Nigeria before drawing with Uganda and Tunisia.

"It is so beautiful to play against the host country," said Miguel Angel Gamondi, the Argentinian coach of the Taifa Stars.

"The players don't need any motivation. They want to do their best for the country and they have come here to get a result."


Sabalenka Says Revenge Not on her Mind for Australian Open

Sabalenka Says Revenge Not on her Mind for Australian Open
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Sabalenka Says Revenge Not on her Mind for Australian Open

Sabalenka Says Revenge Not on her Mind for Australian Open

World number one Aryna Sabalenka said Saturday she isn't out for revenge after losing her Australian Open crown in a shock loss to American Madison Keys last year.

Sabalenka went into the final at Melbourne Park aiming to become the first woman since Martina Hingis to win three consecutive Australian Opens.

But she was undone by Keys, who won her maiden Slam in an inspired performance on Rod Laver Arena.

The Belarusian said there was no difference coming to Australia as the champion or as the runner-up.

"It doesn't matter which tournament it is," she said ahead of a warm-up event in Brisbane.

"If I'm defending champion, if I lost in the first round last year, the goal is always the same -- to bring my best tennis and to improve my game.

"Honestly, that's it. I always just focus on myself, on developing my game, and making sure that I'm 100 percent there."

Sabalenka had an unusual lead-in to the Australian Open starting this month, playing Nick Kyrgios in a much-criticized "Battle of the Sexes" in Dubai.

But she said she was glad to be back in Australia, where she enjoys the conditions and has had great success.

"I definitely don't like the heat, but the people, yeah," AFP quoted her as saying.

"I think the atmosphere -- it's always a full crowd (in Brisbane).

"Everyone really engages a lot with tennis. Also in Melbourne, the support there is incredible.

"I'm always super motivated when I come to Australia," she said, asked if last year's defeat to Keys was added incentive this time.

"Of course remembering last year's final, I really want to do just a little bit better than I did last year," she added with a smile.

Sabalenka said she always chose to open her season in Brisbane because she was guaranteed testing matches.

This year's draw features seven of the world's top 10.

"It's a tough draw, a lot of great players," she said.

"It's a lot of matches before hitting the Australian Open."

Sabalenka has a first-round bye and will play either Spain's Cristina Bucsa or a qualifier in the second round.


Wawrinka Opens 2026 Farewell Tour with Stirring Comeback Win at United Cup

03 January 2026, Australia, Perth: Swiss tennis player Stan Wawrinka  in action against France's Arthur Rinderknech during their men's singles Group C match between Switzerland and France on day two of the United Cup tennis competition at RAC Arena in Perth. Photo: Richard Wainwright/AAP/dpa
03 January 2026, Australia, Perth: Swiss tennis player Stan Wawrinka in action against France's Arthur Rinderknech during their men's singles Group C match between Switzerland and France on day two of the United Cup tennis competition at RAC Arena in Perth. Photo: Richard Wainwright/AAP/dpa
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Wawrinka Opens 2026 Farewell Tour with Stirring Comeback Win at United Cup

03 January 2026, Australia, Perth: Swiss tennis player Stan Wawrinka  in action against France's Arthur Rinderknech during their men's singles Group C match between Switzerland and France on day two of the United Cup tennis competition at RAC Arena in Perth. Photo: Richard Wainwright/AAP/dpa
03 January 2026, Australia, Perth: Swiss tennis player Stan Wawrinka in action against France's Arthur Rinderknech during their men's singles Group C match between Switzerland and France on day two of the United Cup tennis competition at RAC Arena in Perth. Photo: Richard Wainwright/AAP/dpa

Stan Wawrinka's 40-year-old legs didn't let him down over three-plus hours in his first singles match of a 2026 farewell tour on Saturday.

Three-time Grand Slam singles champion Wawrinka beat Arthur Rinderknech of France, who is ranked 29th to Wawrinka's 157th, 5-7, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5). The match went 3 hours, 16 minutes, The Associated Press reported.

Wawrinka announced in December that this year would be his last on the ATP tour.

Ahead of his first match, Wawrinka said he hoped to improve on his current ranking and move back into the top 100 before he retires. His highest ranking was No. 3, achieved when he won the Australian Open in 2014.

“I’m happy with the decision (to retire) and feeling at peace with that,” Wawrinka said.

The United Cup is among a number of tournaments being played over the next two weeks Down Under ahead of the Australian Open which begins in Melbourne on Jan. 18.

His teammate Belinda Bencic started off the tie Saturday with a 6-2, 6-4 win over France’s Leolia Jeanjean, giving the Swiss team a winning 2-0 lead.