Thomas Frank Reveals PSG Warning Helped Spurs Protect Lead vs City
- Think Football Ideas
- 8 hours ago
- 2 min read

Frank Credits PSG Warning for Spurs’ Composed 2–0 Win Over Man City
Tottenham boss Thomas Frank lifted the lid on the tactical reminders that ensured his side clung to their two-goal advantage at the Etihad, admitting that lessons from the Super Cup clash against Paris Saint-Germain shaped the way Spurs approached the second half in Saturday’s 2–0 victory over Manchester City.
Brennan Johnson and Joao Palhinha struck decisive first-half blows, but the real test came after the break, when Pep Guardiola’s Cityzens pressed furiously in search of a way back.
For Frank, that scenario brought echoes of the collapse against PSG earlier this month, when Spurs saw a 2–0 lead evaporate. This time, however, the manager was determined to write a different ending.
“I referenced it at half-time,” Frank revealed. “When you’re tired, keep going. That was one thing. Two, we had to stay brave on the ball. Three, we needed to keep being strong in the high press, but of course, it’s easier said than done.
“From every game you learn, and from games where you don’t get the result you want, you learn maybe even more.”
Frank admitted the PSG match acted as a warning sign for his players, a reminder that no lead is safe if the intensity drops. “The other night was a final, and this was away at the Etihad, one of the most difficult places to go. But the mentality was the key. You need that mentality to win games like this,” he said.
The Dane was also quick to highlight the contributions of his summer recruits, particularly Palhinha, whose commanding midfield display, capped with a goal, underlined his importance.
“We got a few questions about the transfer market, about why not and what if,” Frank smiled. “But what is 100% certain is that we brought two top players into the club - Kudus and Palhinha. Both have performed very well. Palhinha, wow… he’s still not fully fit in my opinion, but already helping us massively.”
Frank’s Spurs, much like his Brentford side before them, are quickly developing a reputation for ferocious pressing and collective discipline. He cited Jurgen Klopp’s famous view on pressing as a playmaker as a guiding principle.
“He was a clever man,” Frank laughed. “I need to text him and say, ‘Hey, that’s awfully clever.’ I believe in the aggressive press. You saw it today, you saw it with my Brentford team. It’s a front-foot way of defending, and it’s more fun to defend in the opponent’s half. Today we were very successful, and even scored a goal from it.”
The win for Spurs was evidence of lessons learned. Where PSG had punished hesitation, City found a Tottenham Hotspur side that refused to yield. And in Frank’s mind, that shift was as much about mentality as tactics.
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