New Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank insists there were “so many positives” despite his side throwing away a two-goal lead to lose on penalties against Paris Saint-Germain in the Uefa Super Cup final.
Spurs were just minutes away from a second European trophy in a matter of months after Micky Van de Ven and new club captain Cristian Romero had put the north Londoners 2-0 up going into the final 10 minutes at Bluenergy Stadium in Udine, Italy.
But Luis Enrique’s Champions League winners clawed themselves back into the contest courtesy of late goals from substitutes Lee Kang-In and Goncalo Ramos before winning the subsequent penalty shootout 4-3.
However, for large spells in the match, the all-conquering French club appeared to have very few answers to the Europa League winners’ gameplan: one that seemed to have the Danish manager’s blueprints all over it as Spurs delivered an assured and largely risk-averse display.
And Frank, who left Brentford to take over from Ange Postecoglou this summer, was keen to keep the focus on the positives.
“We played a very good game against one of the best teams in the world, maybe the best at this moment in time,” Frank told TNT Sports after the game.
“We had them exactly where we wanted them for 80-something minutes, then it shifted momentum. But so many positives, so proud of the team, the players, the club, the fans.
“There is a lot to be happy with, it’s a flip of a coin when you go to a penalty shootout. We showed we could be tactical and pragmatic, high pressure, low defending, the first half was top, almost perfect.
“We showed we can play against any team in the world. That’s a positive to take away from this.”
Frank also admitted that while he was content with the players at his disposal, he was adamant that the squad, who look set to be without James Maddison for most of the season after the midfielder suffered an ACL injury, could strengthen ahead of the Premier League season this weekend.
“In general I am happy with the squad, but we can make it stronger,” he added.
“There will be a little bit of disappointment for 24 hours, but tomorrow afternoon we will be ready.
“On Friday we will be more ready, then we will come flying out on Saturday [at home to Burnley in the Premier League opener].”
