Thomas Frank entered what appeared to be a near-impossible assignment against Paris Saint-Germain declaring he was “1,000% sure” of his ability to build both a team and a club. It was a bold assertion in the wake of fierce criticism from Tottenham supporters following what many viewed as a passive tactical approach during the North London derby defeat to Arsenal.
The challenge was made even greater by the calibre of opposition: the reigning Champions League holders, a PSG side that swept aside Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa on their way to European glory last season.
Yet for more than an hour in the intimidating environment of the Parc des Princes, Spurs matched PSG with resilience, structure and attacking ambition. Even the Virage Auteuil ultras were notably subdued as Frank’s side imposed themselves with far more conviction than they had shown at the Emirates.
As ever in Paris, the pre-match spectacle — fireworks, lights, and a deafening drumbeat — set the tone. But at one stage, Tottenham looked capable of staging a shock victory before being overwhelmed in a 12-minute spell that ultimately shaped a 5–3 defeat. A thriller, yes, but ultimately another disappointment in a defining week.
Frank will nevertheless take heart. Tottenham’s collapse owed as much to their own avoidable errors as to the inevitable surges of quality PSG routinely produce. Again, Spurs conceded heavily — five goals here after four at Arsenal — but the performance bore little resemblance to Sunday’s capitulation. This display carried purpose.
Spurs led twice through Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani, the latter scoring twice against his parent club. But even without injured playmaker Désiré Doué and with Ousmane Dembélé only on the bench, PSG possessed too much firepower to be contained.
Frank abandoned the much-maligned five-man defence used at Arsenal and reverted to a more traditional back four, supported by Rodrigo Bentancur and Archie Gray. Up front, he paired Richarlison with Kolo Muani to promising effect.
The selection also hinted at strategic rotation ahead of Saturday’s pivotal home fixture against Fulham, with Mohammed Kudus, João Palhinha, Destiny Udogie, Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons all rested.
For long spells, however, Tottenham’s adjusted set-up worked. Their man-for-man system unsettled PSG, who initially struggled to advance the ball with the ease they often enjoy. Spurs pressed high, regained possession aggressively and demonstrated an intensity emblematic of Frank’s managerial identity — something glaringly absent at the Emirates, where Spurs won just 17 of 53 duels.
In Paris, commitment was not the issue. Instead, Tottenham were undone by damaging lapses. PSG’s equaliser before half-time came after Spurs switched off from a set-piece, allowing Vitinha — outstanding throughout — to strike. Another mistake, this time from Pape Matar Sarr in midfield with the score at 2–2, led to Fabian Ruiz putting PSG ahead for the first time.
Vitinha, the driving force of PSG’s Champions League triumph last season, delivered two exceptional goals — one with each foot — underlining why Frank later called him “the best midfielder in the world” and a future Ballon d’Or winner.
Though PSG eventually demonstrated their superiority, Tottenham addressed legitimate concerns about their attacking threat. Richarlison and Kolo Muani combined for three goals — a significant step forward for the latter, whose Spurs career has stalled due to a dead leg and a broken jaw that limited him to four starts before this fixture.
Former Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson recognised the shift:
“Tottenham had a different attitude — more intensity, more pressing, higher up the pitch. There was a lot more to be positive about. Frank can pinpoint what went wrong this time, rather than being left baffled as he was at the weekend.”
Despite the defeat, Spurs finally showed elements of the identity Frank has been trying to instil: aggression, structure, and a willingness to take initiative. The challenge now is to translate those improvements into results.
Saturday’s home clash with Fulham offers Frank another chance to reassure supporters that meaningful progress is being made — and that the foundations he insists are in place can indeed support something lasting.
