Udeen, Italy – Tottenham Hotspur is determined to become a club synonymous with winning titles.
Consequently, their heartbreaking UEFA Super Cup loss to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday has provided manager Thomas Frank with a harsh early lesson about his new role. Welcome to Tottenham, Thomas.
The victory in the UEFA Europa League back in May marked a significant milestone, ending a 17-year trophy drought and signaling a potential shift away from the long-held “Spursy” label associated with failure.
However, this match felt like a regression to darker times. Spurs were leading 2-0 with just five minutes to go, thanks to goals from defenders Mickey Van Deben and Christian Romero, but conceded a late penalty that took the game into extra time.
They were also up by two goals in the shootout. After an early miss from Vitanya, both Van de Ven and Matiss Ter failed to convert their penalties, allowing Nuno Mendes to seal a 4-3 win for PSG with a successful kick.
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The narrow margins in soccer can be unforgiving. Having finally broken free from psychological barriers that plagued them for nearly 20 years, Frank understands the urgency of maintaining this positive momentum. His first competitive match, while disappointing, offers a solid foundation for future success.
Romero, the new captain, scored two impressive set-piece goals, and for around 70 minutes, his team displayed a much-organized and resilient play style, reflecting the effective work Frank put in during the preseason. Their game has regained stability.
Mohamed Kudus, signed from West Ham United for £55 million, stood out in the 5-3-2 formation, playing well alongside Richarlison. Additionally, Joan Parchña, who arrived on loan from Bayern Munich, brought added intensity to the midfield.
“We knew we had to adjust our strategy against PSG, so it felt like a special mission,” Frank explained regarding the tactical shift.
“It was a medically successful operation, but unfortunately, the patient didn’t make it. Despite close calls and a different game plan, we fell short.”
Frank emphasized the importance of teamwork in his preseason message, particularly noticeable when players united as they left the field at halftime.
It’s clear that Postecoglou previously overlooked the significance of having professional set-piece coaches, which greatly impacts game outcomes. Andreas Georgeson, with experience at Brentford, Arsenal, and Manchester United, has already demonstrated how crucial these details can be—making PSG’s disorganization seem even more pronounced.
Ultimately, Tottenham’s decline allowed PSG, the reigning European champions, to regroup and regain their rhythm as the match progressed.
Following a short preseason due to the FIFA Club World Cup, PSG appeared sharp yet underprepared. In contrast, Tottenham’s substitutes failed to make a significant impact, while players like Fabian Lewis, Lee, and Ramos had a notable influence on the game.
“I wish I knew what went wrong,” Frank lamented. “In soccer, the margins can be extremely thin. They kept applying pressure, and when they scored from the edge of the box, it was unexpected since they hadn’t created many real scoring chances before that.”
“If you hold PSG to 2-2, you’d be inclined to be satisfied. It feels like a decent outcome. But losing in the shootout changes everything, and we need to improve our penalty strategy. The performance and effort put in were commendable.”
Paris Saint-Germain’s experience shone through as expected; European champions have triumphed over Europa League winners in 12 of their last 13 encounters.
Spurs could have added their name to the list of English clubs to win the Super Cup, but goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier’s crucial save from Van de Ven kept that from happening, making Romero’s header in the second half feel meaningless.
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One takeaway might be that Frank requires further support from the transfer market to build the team he envisions. Spurs find themselves frustrated in this area, particularly with Morgan Gibbs-White opting for a new contract with Nottingham Forest, and James Madison’s serious injury alongside Dejunkle Sevsky’s creativity issues have been glaring. They are considering acquiring Ebekieze from Crystal Palace and Savinho from Manchester City as potential reinforcements.
Regardless of the transfer activity before the deadline, Frank expects the benchmark to be set by those initial 70 minutes. “Our early pressure and aggression must be persistent in defense as it’s key for consistency,” Frank stated.
“At times, you just need to perform exceptionally, and sometimes a tad better. A promising takeaway was our set pieces. We knew this could be an area to exploit against PSG and worked hard on them.”
Meanwhile, PSG’s head coach, Luis Enrique, expressed satisfaction with how his squad managed to secure their fifth trophy of 2025, stating, “We have faith. I believe we can win any game, even when we’re behind. Yet, honestly, Tottenham deserved more. Football can indeed be unfair. That said, I’m very pleased with the outcome!”
Fan Take: This match highlights the fine line between success and failure in soccer, as Tottenham learned the hard way against PSG. For fans, it underscores the challenges faced by teams in their pursuit of glory and the importance of adaptability and resilience, which could shape the narrative for the upcoming season.
