Thomas Frank’s Special Operation
How the Tricky Lilywhites Nearly Did the Impossible
2025 UEFA Super Cup: PSG 2 - Tottenham 2 (4 - 3 Pen)
The 2025 Super Cup took place in Udine on Wednesday night, as Champions League kings Paris Saint-Germain took on the holders of the Europa League crown, Tottenham Hotspur. PSG entered the match as arguably the best team in the world, their only notable fault of late coming in the Club World Cup final against Chelsea. PSG won the treble last campaign, operating on a level that few clubs in the world could match, moving with a grace that gave them an air of inevitability every time they stepped onto the pitch. Tottenham, on the other hand, were emerging from a state of flux. Last season, former manager Ange Postecoglou led Spurs to the Europa League trophy, the club’s first trophy in 17 years and their first European trophy in a generation. However, a severe injury crisis would lead Spurs to finish 17th in the Premier League, just one place above relegation. This would (in my opinion, wrongly) lead to Ange being sacked in the summer, and Thomas Frank would be hired as his replacement. Frank came to Spurs with glowing reviews from Brentford, and the Super Cup would be his first proper match with Tottenham.
Lineups
The Special Operation
Frank said in a post match interview that he had a “special operation” planned for the game, and for 75 minutes, Spurs were executing to full effect. Spurs would set out in a 3-5-2, and their press was giving PSG fits for the majority of the match. Spurs’ front 2 would press out to in, with the wingbacks jumping to cover the PSG fullbacks. They would then go man for man in midfield with the center backs aggressively following any dropping attackers, which helped to nullify PSG’s incredibly dangerous rotations. Spurs’ press would often prevent PSG from building out of their own half.
When PSG did break the press, Spurs were quick to drop into a mid-block. The block restricted central spaces, forcing the ball out wide, where Spurs could then look to win it. The center backs again would be quick to jump to follow any dropping attackers, severely limiting PSG’s effectiveness in possession.
The out-of-possession game plan for Tottenham was, in a word, brave. Spurs were quick and decisive to press off of their triggers, and it led to the north London side often winning the ball in the attacking two thirds of the pitch. When Spurs did win the ball, they looked to play on the counter, exploiting the space afforded to them by PSG’s fluid and expansive in-possession structure. Twice this direct play would lead to PSG committing a foul and a set piece, which Tottenham would go on to score.
How PSG Turned It Around
Frank’s plan was incredibly effective, but it demanded incredible effort from his players. The man-to-man nature of the press meant it was incredibly draining, especially for the midfielders. As the match went on, tired legs began to show. The exhaustion forced Frank to his bench, which helped PSG back into the game. It was in the depth of the squads that PSG began to flex their muscle as continental champions. Spurs would bring on Gray, Solanke, Tel, and Bergvall, while PSG would bring on Fabian, Mbaye, Ramos, and Lee Kang-In (the last two both scoring goals). The substitutions were a potent reminder of which team was the reigning continental champion and which team narrowly avoided relegation the season prior. With the intent of protecting tired players and hanging on to a lead, Frank would drop Spurs into a low block for the final stages. However, this would ultimately play into PSG’s hands. Against a low block, PSG were finally able to open up, with their wide rotations creating chance after chance. The addition of Ramos also allowed Dembélé to move over to the right, where he would ultimately play the cross that led to Ramos’ stoppage time equalizer.
With the score level after 90 minutes, the match would go to penalties. In the shootout, PSG would complete their comeback, winning on penalties 4-3. PSG ultimately showed why many consider them the best in the world, coming from behind to take the trophy back to Paris. Tottenham fought valiantly, but a lack of depth and the decision to drop so low would ultimately prove their undoing. Spurs’ special operation came up just short, but there’s a lot to build on this season in north London.
