Thomas Frank praises Dominic Solanke after Dortmund win

Thomas Frank could barely hide his satisfaction after watching Dominic Solanke mark his first start of the season with a decisive contribution in Tottenham Hotspur’s 2–0 Champions League victory over Borussia Dortmund.

The striker, sidelined since August with a persistent ankle issue, was handed his first start under Frank and his first appearance from kick-off in this season’s competition. Solanke responded with a composed first-half finish to cap a dominant opening spell in north London, as Spurs took firm control against the Bundesliga side.

Cristian Romero’s early header set the tone inside 15 minutes before Solanke doubled the advantage on 37 minutes, converting Wilson Odobert’s delivery after Dortmund had been reduced to ten men. The damage was done before the break, allowing Tottenham to manage the contest professionally in the second half.

Solanke’s return has been carefully managed since he made his comeback from the bench against Aston Villa on 10 January, followed by a substitute appearance versus West Ham United. Tuesday night marked a significant step forward — his first start of the campaign, his first under Frank, and his Champions League debut for the club.

Frank was quick to highlight the broader value of Solanke’s performance beyond the goal.

“You could see his link-up play and his hold-up play,” the Spurs head coach explained afterwards. “He maybe could have scored one or two more — it was just the timing of arriving in the box. But also his work ethic. He works so hard.

“I know he wasn’t match fit, but he went all in. After 65 minutes, he’d given everything.”

Despite lacking full sharpness after months on the sidelines, Solanke’s physical output stood out. His ability to occupy Dortmund’s centre-backs created space for runners, while his pressing helped Tottenham maintain territorial control during the first half.

Frank also noted Solanke’s growing understanding with Pedro Porro and others around him, suggesting that rhythm and cohesion will improve as minutes accumulate.

The Tottenham boss also singled out Destiny Udogie, who made his first start since early December after battling through fitness concerns. Frank revealed there had been internal debate over whether to include the full-back, praising his willingness to push forward despite discomfort.

“Dom is normally a physical beast, but he’s been out for so long,” Frank added. “He gave everything and gave so much to the team. It’s very good to have players like that on the pitch.”

The victory extended Tottenham’s perfect home record in this season’s Champions League league phase, making it four wins from four with four clean sheets at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Spurs’ unbeaten European run at home now stands at 24 matches.

Qualification is already secured, with a top-eight finish — or at least a seeded play-off position — still firmly within reach ahead of the final matchday away to Eintracht Frankfurt next week.

Tottenham travel to Germany to face Eintracht Frankfurt in Matchday 8, where a strong result could secure automatic qualification for the knockout stage. For Solanke, the focus will be on building fitness and pushing for further starts as Spurs navigate a demanding run of fixtures.

Can Dominic Solanke now cement himself as Tottenham’s first-choice striker?