Thomas Frank has said he preferred Tottenham’s “front-footed” performance in their 5-3 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain to their cautious approach against Arsenal days earlier. The Spurs manager was criticised for fielding a back five in the 4-1 loss at the Emirates, and his side responded with a more ambitious display in Paris.
Tottenham led twice before Vitinha’s hat-trick secured victory for the European champions. Randal Kolo Muani, on loan from PSG, scored his first goals for Spurs, while teenagers Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray started in central midfield. They could retain their places against Fulham on Saturday as Tottenham attempt to win at home in the Premier League for the first time since the opening weekend. Captain Cristian Romero is suspended.
With pressure mounting after three wins in 12 games, Frank wants his side to continue showing attacking endeavour. “Over all the years I’ve been in charge, no matter if it was when I was with my under-eights team in Frederiksværk 30 years ago to now, I want to play offensive front-footed football,” he said. He added that after the Arsenal defeat he felt “angry, painful, hurt”, but after PSG he was “irritated” yet the feeling in his body was better because his team really competed.
This time last year, Frank’s Brentford had the best home record in the Premier League with seven wins and a draw from their opening eight matches at the Gtech Community Stadium. Tottenham have the second-worst home record this season with five points from six games, having secured only three victories in 20 home league matches, most played under Ange Postecoglou last season.
Frank emphasised the need for patience but said he hoped to create a similar chemistry to the one at Brentford, where the front three scored 50 goals between them. “They clicked and that’s what we are working very hard to find now... I hope we see signs of it on Saturday,” he said.
