Thomas Frank: ‘We Had Them Exactly Where We Wanted’ – Tottenham Painful Super Cup Defeat to PSG

Frank Reflects on Tottenham’s Near-Perfect Night Before PSG’s Late Turnaround

For 80 minutes in Udine, Thomas Frank’s Tottenham looked like a team reborn. The energy, the structure, the sheer belief — it was all there. They had shackled a Paris Saint-Germain side dripping with attacking riches, silenced their stars, and stood on the brink of delivering a statement win to launch the Dane’s new era in charge.

Micky van de Ven’s opener, a well-timed finish after a chaotic set-piece scramble, and Cristian Romero’s thundering header had Spurs two goals to the good. The plan had been simple but brilliantly executed: disciplined defending when PSG surged forward, aggressive pressing to force mistakes, and set-pieces sharpened to a razor’s edge.

For much of the night, the Parisians looked frustrated, their rhythm broken. Tottenham had them exactly where they wanted them. And then, in a cruel twist that football seems to relish, it all began to slip.

When Momentum Shifts

With ten minutes to play, Lee Kang-in’s low strike halved the deficit. It wasn’t just a goal — it was a flicker of belief for PSG. The noise changed, the tempo shifted, and the Parisians, sensing blood, pounced.

Deep into the dying minutes, Gonçalo Ramos delivered the hammer blow, pouncing inside the box to level the tie. Extra time wasn’t needed — the match went straight to penalties. And there, the momentum carried PSG home. Tottenham, who had been in control for so long, left the pitch empty-handed.

Frank’s face at full-time told the story: a mix of pride and pain. Speaking to TNT Sports moments after the final whistle, the Spurs boss didn’t hide his feelings.

“I think we played a very good game against one of the best teams in the world, maybe the best,” Frank said. “We had them exactly where we wanted them for 80-something minutes until 2-1. Then it shifted the momentum, but I’m so proud of the team, players, club and fans.

“We showed we can be adaptable and pragmatic. We needed to be that against a team like PSG, with the way we wanted to defend with both high pressure and a low block. The first half was almost perfect and the set-pieces were very dangerous. In one game, I think we have shown we can play against any team in the world. I’m not in doubt about that, and that’s a positive to take away from this.”

Spurs’ Set-Piece Masterclass

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If there was one clear tactical theme in Frank’s game plan, it was the deadly precision of Tottenham’s set-pieces. Both goals came from situations rehearsed tirelessly on the training ground, with Frank putting his players through a warm-up almost entirely focused on dead-ball routines.

“It was a special operation,” Frank smiled wryly. “In medical terms, the operation succeeded but the patient died, so not that good in the end. But we worked on a game plan that was a little bit different and very close to succeeding.”

That meticulous planning was visible from the first whistle. Tottenham pressed high at key moments, forcing PSG’s back line into hurried clearances. When the ball went out of play in the attacking third, Spurs were quick to get Romero, van de Ven, and the big targets forward, knowing exactly where the deliveries would land.

The Psychology of Letting Go

Football isn’t just about tactics — it’s about moments. For 80 minutes, Spurs were in control, but the psychology of a late comeback can overwhelm even the most disciplined side.

When Lee Kang-in scored, PSG’s players grew taller, their passes sharper. Tottenham’s movements became just a fraction slower, the small hesitations creeping in. Against a side with PSG’s firepower, that’s all it takes.

Frank admitted the emotional swing was hard to stop. “We had them exactly where we wanted them. But when it goes to 2-1 against a team like that, you can feel the change. It’s like the whole stadium breathes differently.”

From Heartbreak to Opportunity

Paris Saint-Germain v Tottenham Hotspur – UEFA Super Cup 2025

While the Super Cup defeat to PSG will sting, Frank’s Tottenham sent a message. This wasn’t a team clinging on desperately — this was a side that outplayed and out-thought one of Europe’s elite for most of the contest.

The challenge now is to turn that performance into momentum in the Premier League. Burnley visit Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday afternoon, and the question will be whether Spurs can turn frustration into fuel.

The signs are there: a sharper, more physical edge in defence, set-piece precision, and a tactical adaptability that Frank believes will be essential for competing at the highest level.

Frank’s First Statement as Spurs Boss

For Frank personally, this match felt like a statement — even in defeat. Taking over a club with Tottenham’s ambitions means proving you can mix it with Europe’s best. While the result will go down as a loss, the performance suggested that Spurs under Frank are prepared to embrace a more pragmatic and detail-driven style without sacrificing attacking intent.

He’s not naïve — Frank knows his side still needs to find that ruthless streak to finish games off. But if this is what Spurs can produce in his first major test, there’s reason for optimism.

Looking Ahead

The PSG defeat will fade into the background soon enough, replaced by the week-in, week-out grind of the Premier League. Yet the lessons learned in Udine will stick. Tottenham discovered they could frustrate a superclub, they could create and take chances, and they could stand toe-to-toe with world-class opposition.

Frank’s final reflection summed it up perfectly: “We came with a plan, we executed it almost perfectly, and we saw that we can play against anyone. That has to be the starting point for what comes next.”

Burnley might not be PSG, but they’ll be walking into a Tottenham side with a point to prove — and a head coach determined to make this season more than just a rebuilding year.

If Spurs can bottle the intensity and organisation of their Super Cup display, their next opponent could find themselves on the wrong side of Frank’s “special operation.” And this time, he’ll be hoping the patient survives.