Tottenham manager Thomas Frank discovered significant encouragement in his team's performance during a thrilling 5-3 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.
Spurs Show Character After Arsenal Humiliation
Following their painful 4-1 loss to arch-rivals Arsenal just days earlier, Tottenham delivered exactly the response their manager demanded in the French capital. The London club twice took the lead against the reigning Champions League winners, demonstrating the fighting spirit Frank had called for after their North London derby disappointment.
Brazilian forward Richarlison opened the scoring for Spurs, with PSG loanee Randal Kolo Muani then netting against his parent club. The French striker remarkably added his second goal with just 18 minutes remaining, briefly giving Tottenham hope of securing a valuable result.
Vitinha Treble Sinks Brave Tottenham
PSG's Portuguese midfielder Vitinha proved the difference-maker, completing his hat-trick shortly after Kolo Muani's second strike to seal the victory for the French giants. The 5-3 defeat ended Tottenham's unbeaten run in this season's Champions League, leaving them 16th in the league phase after five fixtures.
Despite the result, the travelling Tottenham supporters showed their appreciation for the team's effort by applauding them off the pitch at full-time. This marked a significant contrast to recent tepid attacking displays that had frustrated the fanbase.
Frank's Identity Taking Shape
"I'm pleased with the performance. It was the reaction I wanted from the players, from the team," Frank insisted during his post-match assessment. "Today I saw more identity of the team I want to create."
The Danish manager highlighted three crucial elements he believes are fundamental to any successful side: "Much more character, personality, aggressiveness. Three words you need to have in any team no matter how you want to play. Today we saw it, that I'm pleased with."
Frank expressed some frustration that his team couldn't secure at least a draw from a match where their performance level deserved reward, but emphasised this display provides "something to build on" with strikers scoring goals and the entire team performing well.
Teenage Duo Impress Against European Giants
Two teenage midfielders particularly caught the eye during Tottenham's spirited display. Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall were especially influential during a fine first-half performance that saw Spurs compete toe-to-toe with their illustrious opponents for extended periods.
Frank reserved special praise for the young duo, stating: "Very impressive. Two young players, said from the beginning, that I believe a lot in." He highlighted Gray's recovery from a calf injury and described the combination play between the teenagers that set up the opening goal as "joyful to watch."
The performance of Gray and Bergvall provides Frank with welcome selection headaches, given he has largely preferred the experienced midfield partnership of João Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur throughout this campaign.
Frank also acknowledged the quality of PSG's match-winner, describing Vitinha as "what a player" while noting the Portuguese midfielder operates alongside Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé in the French side's lineup.
The victory proved crucial for PSG manager Luis Enrique after his team's 2-1 home defeat to Bayern Munich earlier this month. The Spanish coach described Vitinha as "sensational" and expressed delight with his hat-trick hero's contribution, particularly praising his courage to claim the ball for the penalty that completed his treble.
