London, UK- September 4, 2025
In a stunning move that underscores the brutal reality of football squad management, Tottenham manager Frank has made a highly controversial decision, opting to leave recent £30m signing Tel out of his club’s Champions League squad for the upcoming campaign. The shock exclusion of the young French winger, who only made his permanent move to North London this summer, is a direct result of UEFA’s stringent regulations and a glut of new arrivals, leaving the manager in an impossible position and sending a clear message about the fierce competition for a place in the squad.
The decision was confirmed as Tottenham submitted their final 22-man squad list to UEFA ahead of the competition’s league phase. The list revealed that Mathys Tel, along with a number of other high-profile players, was deemed surplus to requirements for the European campaign. Tel, who spent the latter half of last season on loan at Spurs before the club paid a further £30m to make his deal permanent, has yet to make a competitive start under new manager Thomas Frank. The 20-year-old winger has been limited to substitute appearances in the Premier League, and his omission from the Champions League squad is a major setback for his development.
The root of this difficult decision lies in UEFA’s squad rules, which mandate that clubs must name a minimum of eight “locally trained” players in their 25-man “A” list. Tottenham’s well-documented shortage of homegrown talent has left them in a precarious position for several seasons. This year, the situation worsened, forcing Frank to name a smaller-than-full 22-man squad and omit six players who would otherwise have been eligible. The club has only one “club-trained” player, leaving three homegrown spots unfilled. The tight regulations and Tottenham’s lack of “homegrown” players, coupled with a flurry of non-locally trained signings, meant the new manager had no choice but to make some incredibly tough calls.
Among the other players left out were the injured James Maddison, who is out for the season with an ACL tear, and Dejan Kulusevski, who is also sidelined following knee surgery. However, the most notable and surprising exclusion was undoubtedly Tel, who was a marquee signing and a key part of the club’s long-term strategy. The arrival of Randal Kolo Muani, a deadline-day loan signing from Paris Saint-Germain who is also a non-locally trained player, appears to have been the final straw that sealed Tel’s fate for this season’s European campaign.
For Thomas Frank, who only took the reins in June, this situation highlights the unique challenges of managing a top Premier League club. He has been forced to leave out a significant investment and a promising talent, which could cause a rift with the player and questions from the club’s hierarchy. The decision places a great deal of pressure on the players who have been selected, as they are now tasked with justifying the manager’s brutal, but necessary, choices. For Tel, the snub is a bitter pill to swallow and a stark reminder that even a hefty price tag does not guarantee a spot in the squad. His focus will now shift to proving his worth in domestic competitions, hoping to force his way into the team and make a case for a spot in future European squads.
Headline Points
* Shock Omission: Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has left £30m summer signing Mathys Tel out of the club’s Champions League squad.
* UEFA Rules to Blame: The exclusion is a direct result of UEFA’s homegrown player regulations and Tottenham’s shortage of eligible players.
* Other Players Omitted: Tel is among a list of six players left out, which includes the injured James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski.
* Setback for Young Star: The decision is a major setback for the 20-year-old French winger, who is yet to make a competitive start for the club.
* Increased Pressure: The move places more pressure on the selected players to perform and on Tel to prove his worth in domestic competitions.
