Tottenham Hotspur finds themselves embroiled in a significant struggle, with former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney asserting that the North London club is in a genuine relegation battle. This stark assessment comes after Spurs suffered yet another defeat, a 2-0 loss against Manchester United on Saturday, extending their dismal run to just two wins in their last 16 matches. Their current form has seen them drop to 15th in the Premier League table, a mere six points clear of 18th-placed West Ham, who conversely, have found form, winning three of their last four games.

Manager Thomas Frank, who took charge in June after replacing Ange Postecoglou (despite Postecoglou's Europa League triumph and Spurs' 17th place finish), has faced immense challenges. He has had to contend with significant injury woes, leaving him with a squad of only 11 outfield players for the recent Old Trafford defeat. Further compounding his difficulties, Cristian Romero was sent off in the match, making him unavailable for the crucial upcoming clash against Newcastle. Additionally, Destiny Udogie, returning from injury, was forced off with a thigh injury, adding to the already extensive injury list.

Despite Tottenham's progress in European competition, qualifying for the Champions League last 16 and finishing fourth in the league phase, their Premier League performance has been consistently poor, leading to a strained relationship between Frank and the Spurs supporters. Rooney expressed sympathy for Frank, noting, "I feel for Thomas Frank because he looks tired, he looks like he's aged 10 years. That's what that Tottenham job has done to him in a short period of time."

Rooney urged the club to maintain faith in Frank, acknowledging that many of the issues are beyond the manager's control. However, he also highlighted the added pressure from player conduct, stating, "And you don't need your captain going out getting sent off on a regular basis or being as vocal as he was this week." The former England international's comments underscore the precarious position Tottenham finds itself in, suggesting that they must "definitely be looking over their shoulders" as the season progresses.