Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank remained upbeat despite his side conceding a 96th-minute equaliser in a 2-2 draw at home to Manchester United on Saturday.

Matthijs de Ligt’s dramatic header denied Spurs the chance to move into second place in the Premier League—at least until Sunderland host leaders Arsenal—but Frank was pleased with his team’s marked improvement after halftime.

Spurs’ home form continues to be a concern, with just five points from six league matches and only one win, which came against newly promoted Burnley on the opening day of the season.

Frustrated fans made their feelings known at halftime, booing both the team and Frank’s decision to replace the lively Xavi Simons with Mathys Tel. However, the substitution proved inspired, as Tel scored to level the match at 1-1 and spark a comeback, following a move down the left involving fellow substitutes Wilson Odobert and Destiny Udogie.

Seeking the Right Balance

Frank acknowledged that his efforts to add defensive stability had sometimes left Spurs short of ideas in attack, though the second half showed significant improvement.

“We’re playing at home. Of course, we all want to win, and home form is something we take seriously,” Frank said. “But the way we turned things around in the second half, kept doing the right things, I’m very happy with that. We were so close to winning, and on another day, we do.”

Frank admitted Spurs were still “searching to find the right balance up front,” noting that PSG loanee Randal Kolo Muani was substituted at halftime following an anonymous display. He also highlighted a missed opportunity by Richarlison early in the game, saying:

“One of the biggest chances was Richarlison from a cross from Brennan Johnson… if he scores instead of Bryan Mbuemo, it changes things and opens up the game a bit more. But we’re constantly working on the relationships, trying to find the right plan, and I think there were small steps in the right direction.”

Despite the late setback, Frank remains focused on progress, emphasizing the positive signs in Spurs’ performance and the improvements in the second half.