Tottenham may become new set-piece kings but now must bolster attack

Times

2 days ago

'The operation worked, but the patient died,' Thomas Frank said, as Paris Saint-Germain engineered their own miraculous recovery against Tottenham Hotspur to win the Super Cup on Wednesday night.
It was an unexpectedly agonising defeat for Spurs, after they led 2-0 in the 85th minute, before conceding twice and losing on penalties, as Frank's side threw away the chance to win a second European trophy in four months.
Still, many expected Spurs to be given a thrashing by PSG and there were plenty of positives for Frank to savour as his team executed a clear tactical plan, with a new system and two goals from well-rehearsed set-pieces. The Frank revolution is up and running.
Tottenham had not played with a back three in any of their pre-season fixtures but that does not mean they didn't work on the formation. Frank and his coaching team decided to go with a central trio against PSG after the defeat by Bayern Munich last week, and the players worked on it in training as part of a 'special operation' designed specifically for this final.
Frank often played a 3-5-2 against tougher opponents after Brentford were promoted to the Premier League and this was an early insight into how Tottenham will shift their tactical approach this season, depending on opponent and situation. By contrast, Ange Postecoglou took pride in his team playing on the front foot regardless.
Spurs want to sign another central defender before the end of the transfer window, perhaps with the idea that they will use a back three more regularly this season, and the system also suits Micky van de Ven, whose speed and ball carrying ability means he can cover the spaces behind a left wingback.
Frank is likely to revert to a back four, and a 4-2-3-1, at home to Burnley on Saturday, when the more attacking elements of his game plan will be examined. After that comes Manchester City away, when the back three could well be given another outing.
The defensive trio meant more advanced roles for Djed Spence and Pedro Porro at left and right wingback. Frank has often persuaded wingers to take up this position during his coaching career, but Porro and Spence are such attacking full backs that they looked more than comfortable with the extra freedom to push into the final third.
Porro was taking free kicks — it was his delivery that led to the second goal — and he was given licence to threaten the goal. When Kevin Danso lined up his early long throw, Porro was posted on the edge of the area, presumably as one of the team's best long-range shooters, in case the ball spilt loose.
Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager.
Spence will be a work in progress for Frank. On the ball, he can be a real asset to Tottenham going forward and he used his speed to dash in behind PSG's right side when slipped through by Van de Ven.
But Frank wanted Porro and Spence to press high and there was some frustration on the Tottenham bench in the first half when PSG were able to escape too easily down Spence's side. Whether Frank can teach him to be more conscientious out of possession remains to be seen.
Frank is obsessed by culture and togetherness, to the extent that at Brentford they moved the training ground around to make sure there were plenty of 'collision points' where players and staff would naturally bump into each other and socialise.
Tottenham's pre-season tour to Hong Kong and South Korea was a very compressed trip, with little time for relaxation or team-bonding exercises, but there were some early glimpses of the cohesion Frank likes to encourage. At half-time against PSG, a few Spurs players began to walk off the pitch before being reminded to wait for each other to head down the tunnel as a unit.
Frank's body language on the touchline was also noticeable. Postecoglou usually stood with his arms folded on the touchline, leaving the players to think for themselves, but Frank is more in the Mikel Arteta mould, a coach who darts around his technical area, directing them where to press and applauding even their mistakes.
Frank is all about togetherness and positivity. 'I have my rule, I can be disappointed for 24 hours,' he said. 'I'll make sure the players are ready and come flying out on Saturday.'
Tottenham's two goals against PSG came from two of their central defenders, Van de Ven and Cristian Romero, and from two free kicks, both of them sent into the PSG penalty area from deep. Each time, it was clear the players were carrying out a practised routine as Guglielmo Vicario and Porro both aimed for Romero on the left side of the penalty area. For the first goal, Romero headed the ball across the box. For the second, he nodded it into the corner of the net.
Tottenham have weapons in this area, with Porro and Mohammed Kudus both capable of dangerous deliveries, while Van de Ven, Romero, João Palhinha and Richarlison can all cause problems in the box. Danso and Ben Davies both boast long throws. Defensively, Palhinha should help Spurs concede fewer goals from corners and free kicks. Last season, they let in 18.
Frank is unashamedly committed to set-pieces and has brought in a set-piece coach in Andreas Georgson, who was at Manchester United last season after the Swede previously worked with Frank at Brentford. Those sessions are clearly key but just as crucial, Frank believes, is the mental approach to dead-ball situations when the players have to be convinced their work on the training ground gives them an advantage. There will be more launched free kicks and long throws to come.
Nobody has had to ask that question for the best part of a decade, given Harry Kane and Son Heung-min could always be relied upon to hit 30 goals between them. But with Son following Kane through the exit door, Spurs suddenly look light in the area where it matters most.
In the Premier League last season, Brennan Johnson was Tottenham's top scorer with 11 goals, a decent return for Johnson, but a modest leading total for the team. Of those who scored more than five — Dominic Solanke (9), James Maddison (9), Dejan Kulusevski (7) and Son (7) — two are out with knee injuries (Maddison and Kulusevski) and the other has been sold to LAFC.
Only Solanke is available to face Burnley, and he is unlikely to start given he missed most of pre-season with an ankle problem. Frank coaxed 39 goals out of Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa last season at Brentford. Can Kudus, who scored five last season for West Ham, boost his numbers? Can one of the younger talents, like Wilson Odobert or Mathys Tel, step up?
PSG brought on two forwards who both scored on Wednesday night, while Tottenham looked short of attacking options on their bench. They are pushing to sign Savinho from Manchester City and Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace. Creative additions cannot come soon enough.