Tottenham consisting of losing two goals in both the game and the penalty shoot-out in their super cup defeat can make it tempting for some to see this as the 'the same old traces'. But this was different. Thomas Frank's fingerprints were all about the performance.
The new Tottenham boss did not get the result he wanted against Paris Saint-Germain. The boost of silverware in his very first competitive game that was in charge would have been a huge moment for him. But it cannot be denied that his ideas were clear.
Frank's own assessment that “the operation was a success, but the patient died” seemed honest. The tactic was largely justified. Even Luis Enrique said they deserved to win, only for PSG to show their true quality and sniff the trophy away.
“What a mentality in the game. Many things to be happy with.” That was Frank's judgment. What will be fascinating to see is how much he adjusts those tactics, since it is Burnley then before he travels to Manchester City the following week.
It should give an early insight into the flexibility of Frank.
Set pieces can be the power of Spurs
His influences in Udine were both openly and subtle. It is clear that there were the two goals of Set pieces. Both center-backs scoring could not have been perfect, since this was a characteristic of his success in Brentford, which almost turned out to be a trademark.
No team in the Premier League scored more heads last season than Frank's bees. They had the highest average shot quality of set pieces and a conversion rate second only to Liverpool. Brentford also gave the least goals per set piece.
Frank has long understood that these 'cheap' goals can be the marginal profit that make the difference and there will be Tottenham supporters who will appreciate this attention to detail, because the ingredients are there to also be an important weapon for traces.
Nine of the starting line-up against PSG were more than six feet long. “We knew that was an area where we could hurt PSG and we worked very hard on it.” He spoke about a “big focus on the set pieces from all areas of the field” and emphasized that he would continue to do it.
The opener came from a free kick won near the half line and pumped to the distant pole through Guglielmo Vicario. Frank loves creating overloads and it was noticeable that Spurs was looking for the free man at the back. It worked for their second goal.
Although Frank spoke about “a little more direct”, the reality is that this represents a more fundamental shift for Spurs, it was hinted when it became clear that Kevin Danso had won the long -term competition in the training. He took them from the right and left in Udine.
Vicarios changes passing highlights
But nothing illustrates the change clearer than the instructions given to Vicario. Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham played the least long passes of each team in the Premier League last season – persistent to that regardless of staff or opposition.
As a result, the two keepers played to play the least long steps per 90 minutes in the competition, both for Tottenham – Fraser Forster who went a little less often than Vicario. But the pass card of the Italian against PSG showed that there was a different approach.
The side of Luis Enrique is so fond of pressing that their tactics comprises the start of the ball to the field from kick-offs, so that they can box in the opponent. Frank wanted his team that bypassed, PSG robbed of that chance, and it worked for a large part of the competition.
Adjust to stronger opponents
This ability to adjust is a big reason why Frank is of course in the work. The failure of Postecoglou to do this was a factor in those who were admitted 65 goals in the past term, the most spurs in more than 30 years and their most in a 38-game League season since the First World War.
Tottenham's record against stronger parties was especially terrible last season and lost 14 of their 16 Premier League matches against teams that ended in the top eight. That was more than Leicester and Ipswich and even as much as Bottom Club Southampton.
Going to a 5-3-2 form, something he also did in Brentford, suggests that there is now a template for those games. After losing 4-0, he decided Bayern Munich in the preseason. “I knew we had to do something else against PSG,” he said.
The big question that remains is how Frank De Stijl adjusts against weaker opposition. An indication comes on Saturday when Spurs Face Burnley. Displayed to break the team last season with the best defense in England, that should be a completely different test.
It is the kind of game for which James Maddison or, dare to say, Morgan Gibbs-White or Ebereechi Eze, perhaps it may be especially useful when choosing that pass to unlock things. Without them it has the potential to be an uncomfortable opener, given the lead time.
Need a new approach against Burnley
But Frank may have a fresh tactical plan. That is the case since his Brentford was promoted to the Premier League via the play -offs in 2021, only to change their approach to promotion and to survive comfortably, while the top two of the championship – Norwich and Watford – were both degraded.
Even last season, Brentford spent a larger part of the time in a low block than any other team – and yet in one way or another managed to achieve three teams for property in the last third part. He can pop up the switch and defend deeply.
There were indications that against PSG because for all the pressure that the Champions League winners could apply in the final phase, there were also examples of traces behind them. “High pressure is not negotiable,” said Frank.
That could be seen in the efforts of Joao Palhinha, Rodrigo Bentancur and in particular Pape Sarr, the midfield trio that shows a lot of enthusiasm to force PSG wide and support the wingbacks to cut out the crosses. If they had all stayed, Spurs might have won.
For those who traveled to Italy, that lament can hang. But as Frank himself said, he only allow himself to wallow for 24 hours after a defeat. “I will ensure that the players are ready and fly outside on Saturday.” Do not be shocked when the tactics change again.