Tottenham's Champions League squad failure and Mathys Tel decision Thomas Frank forced to make

Thomas Frank always faced a difficult decision when it came to picking his Tottenham squad for this season's edition of the Champions League. Spurs have had major issues in terms of naming a European squad in the past due to UEFA regulations, although not quite to the extent of the 2025/26 campaign.

The Dane didn't just have to leave out one or two Tottenham players; instead had to axe a total of six, which is a massive failure on the club's part. Some decisions were fairly straightforward, such as James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski missing the cut due to their injuries, and some were not.

Yves Bissouma was another player to be dropped amid the prospect of him potentially leaving with the transfer window still remaining open in certain European leagues. Radu Dragusin also missed out as he works his way back to fitness from the ACL injury he suffered back in January, with fellow centre-back Kota Takai also one of the unlucky ones to be axed.

READ MORE: Johan Lange drops Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White hint with Xavi Simons Tottenham statement

READ MORE: Thomas Frank and Johan Lange have one more Tottenham signing to make after summer transfer deals

The sixth and final player to be given the bad news was Mathys Tel. Antonin Kinsky and Wilson Odobert may have been the other players at risk but it was the summer addition from Bayern Munich who was cruelly dropped by Frank.

It was an extremely harsh call and one that many have since questioned. It was not the news the player, who is currently away on France Under-21 duty, wanted and perhaps even expected.

Tel's omission from this season's squad does not have to be the end of his Champions League story, though. His teammate Djed Spence is the perfect example after finding himself in exactly the same position one year ago when Ange Postecoglou selected his Europa League squad.

As clubs are permitted to make a maximum of three squad changes before the knockout phase, Spence was rewarded for his good domestic form with a place in the Europa League party. He would end the season with a Europa League winners' medal around his neck after Tottenham beat Manchester United 1-0 in the final.

Tel could force his way back into the squad come the start of February, providing of course that Tottenham do secure a place in the knockout round. Kulusevski will certainly be knocking on the door and the same goes for Dragusin, with Spurs potentially having new January signings to consider as well.

The absence of Tel for Tottenham's league phase fixtures could leave Frank's side slightly short up front. On UEFA's website, Dominic Solanke, Richarlison and new signing Randal Kolo Muani are listed as the team's three strikers.

The Tottenham boss has adequate options there but he may have a big issue if injury strikes. Many have pointed to Solanke's current injury and question marks over his exact return date, while Richarlison has endured numerous injury woes in his three seasons in N17 and has struggled to be available week in, week out at times since joining from Everton.

It seemed to be a no-brainer to have Tel in the squad for that reason but that is no longer the case. The ex-Rennes man will now have to try and get his minutes domestically as he bids for a big season at Tottenham.

That may be easier said than done as he has only played a total of 30 minutes across three appearances in the team's opening four games of the season. Frank has plenty of options out wide, with Kolo Muani boosting the numbers this week following his switch from PSG on deadline day, and that may in turn limit Tel's football.

There is no doubt that the Sarcelles-born player is very talented and Tottenham have only seen glimpses of his quality so far. The 2025/26 season was always viewed as the season where Tel would make his mark in the capital after having the final four months of last season to adapt to his new surroundings and new league after initially joining on loan from Bayern Munich.

That will hopefully be the case in the months ahead but Tel is now in a position where he can only feature domestically and he will be watching on from the stands in Europe's premier competition. Certainly a cruel blow, and something more of Tottenham's own doing due to their long-standing European squad issues, Tel now has to use it as fuel and show Frank that he was wrong to cut him from his Champions League squad.