The manner in which Tottenham lost the UEFA Super Cup final to Paris Saint-Germain added yet another sordid chapter to the "Spursy" saga and made it impossible to gloss over the yawning gulf in quality and experience that Thomas Frank and Luis Enrique had available on their respective benches.
Many pinned the blame on Daniel Levy for failing to prioritize the signing of an attacking midfielder or winger in the wake of James Maddison's injury and Son Heung-min's departure. It is objectively difficult to argue with that sentiment given that, other than Dominic Solanke, Frank had little choice but to bring on two 19-year-olds and a 20-year-old to see out a cagey European cup final, while Enrique had the luxury of substituting seasoned internationals Gonçalo Ramos and Lee Kang-in to provide firepower and level the match at the death.
But to focus exclusively on the negatives is to dismiss the many encouraging aspects on display during Thomas Frank's first game in charge. Spurs' defense was resolute. They played a tactically astute back three. They were effective on the counter-attack. They were exceedingly dangerous on set pieces. And they nullified PSG's dynamism for 70 minutes, like few teams in the world have been able to do. Before the match, no one thought Spurs had any chance of lifting the trophy, and yet they were two minutes away from pulling it off.
There could be more positive news on the horizon. There is growing belief that Spurs could get one or both of the Eberechi Eze and Savinho deals over the line before the first weekend of Premier League football is in the books. If Tottenham manage to sign both, they would immediately boast one of the most exciting (and expensive) forward lines in Europe.
Speculation about Eze and Savinho, however tempting, shouldn't overshadow how Tottenham's new arrivals have already transformed Spurs' style of play and dramatically improved the squad. While every Spurs player should hold their head high after their display in Udine, there were three who seem destined to define the Thomas Frank era.
João Palhinha
Tottenham supporters have been begging for a world-class central midfielder since Mousa Dembélé left the club in early 2019. Since then, Spurs have experimented with Victor Wanyama, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, and Yves Bissouma, but none have established themselves as a long-term solution. João Palhinha may have finally solved that problem. He will never be mistaken for the Belgian magician; instead, he is the Premier League's incarnation of Robocop.
The Portuguese international has more tackles than any other player in the Premier League since 2022, even though he missed one season while playing at Bayern Munich. But it was his all-around performance against PSG that proved he is more than a battering ram. In the lead-up to Spurs' first goal, the former Fulham man boxed out Marquinhos, pirouetted like a kickboxer, and in one fluid motion smashed a volley on target that Chevalier deflected off the bar and into the path of Micky van de Ven.
Frank now has a number six he can trust. Palhinha won't spray balls around the pitch, but he's seldom out of position. He adds much-needed grit to the squad. He is a threat to score from set pieces and from distance. And most importantly, he makes Tottenham incredibly difficult to break down. It was not surprising that Spurs conceded within ten minutes after he went off the pitch.
Mohammed Kudus
Until other attacking players are brought through the door, it is painfully clear that Kudus is Spurs' primary offensive threat. Known as "Starboy" among his Ghanaian teammates, the mazy winger is one of the world's best dribblers and one of the most technically gifted players in the Premier League.
What surprises many is his power. He uses his low center of gravity to keep possession in tight spaces and is able to muscle defenders off the ball when driving toward goal. He is probably quicker than he is fast. But he proved he is rapid enough to be a threat on the counter-attack. What may come as a surprise given his attributes is his willingness to track back and recover the ball. He plays with fire and pride, and he will no doubt relish the opportunity to put his myriad talents on display during Champions League nights.
Spurs knew they were getting a player with class, but from the small sample size it seems his ceiling is significantly higher than any other Spurs winger at the moment. Frank will work to improve his final product like he did with Mbeumo, Toney, Watkins, Schade, and Wissa. If he can become clinical in front of goal and get some help in the attacking third, he could easily rack up 20 goal contributions this season.
Cristian Romero
The narrative around "Cuti" Romero is about to change. Spurs' most decorated player is now Tottenham's third captain in a decade. It is a fitting honor for a world-class defender who has won nearly everything during his careerâtwo Copa Américas, the CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions, the FIFA World Cup, and now the Europa League. During his seven-year career in Europe, he has also been named Best Defender in Serie A and Europa League Player of the Season.
There was a cacophony of calls to sell the man from Córdoba during parts of last season, due to his tendency to make rash decisions, questions about his commitment to Tottenham, and his injury record. But the Argentinian international proved how indispensable he is against Paris Saint-Germain. He breaks lines with his passing. He is one of Spurs' most dangerous attacking threats on set pieces. He organizes the defense and gives the team supreme confidence.