Tottenham Hotspur have been put through the wringer once again this season, with Thomas Frank struggling to get a tune out of the north London squad.
Sunday's dour defeat against Nottingham Forest underlined the many issues that had already been written down, with errors rife and players bereft of confidence and coherence.
The indelibility of Spurs' European triumph does not overrule the many problems that have stifled progress in recent months. Frank remains steadfast that he is the man for the job, but many of a Lilywhite persuasion are harbouring doubts, and that's only going to intensify if an upswing is not found soon.
Why Frank's job is at risk
Following the defeat at Nottingham Forest, Frank was adamant that it would take time to get his Tottenham project up and running, with reporter Matt Law saying "Spurs have no identifiable culture", thus making managerial merry-go-rounds ineffective, as we have seen over the past ten years down N17.
But Frank's job is nonetheless at risk. Spurs are mired in 12th place in the Premier League, and with just one win from seven games, the gap between those in Champions League contention is beginning to widen.
The old boss, Ange Postecoglou, didn't leave the most stable foundations, but Frank has taken the reins of control in north London and his pragmatism and reworked tactical style have depleted Tottenham of their attacking sparkle without establishing real green shoots.
This is painfully evidenced by the club's dismal playmaking numbers in the top flight this season. Neither James Maddison nor Dejan Kulusevski has kicked a ball due to injury, but the blame still lies with the manager. He has talented options at his disposal.
Take Xavi Simons, for example. The young Dutchman hasn't had it all his way since signing, but he has the trappings of an elite attacking midfielder, and a new manager could help bring him up to his potential.
Spurs lining up Frank upgrade
According to Spanish reports, ENIC Group are growing wary of Frank's progress since being appointed during the summer, and are believed to 'want' former Barcelona boss Xavi as their replacement.
This is not believed to be a short-term fix, but rather, a willingness to appoint a tactician for the long haul, bringing a proactive and intelligent system to the team.
The 45-year-old, who speaks fluent English, has even said in the past that he "would love to work in the Premier League". It might just be a match made in heaven for a Spurs side craving an attractive footballing identity.
Much has been made of Hansi Flick's success at La Blaugrana since arriving in 2024, but pundit Thierry Henry is of the opinion that it was Xavi's work beforehand that has created the pillars of this thrilling Spanish squad, suggesting he is "up there with Pep" in terms of how he sees the game.
Hailed as a "world-class" manager by journalist Maynard Manyowa, Xavi didn't have it all his way in the Catalan capital, but he did win La Liga, infusing his team with trademark passing dominance. It was a barnstorming season of success in 2022/23, so much so that club president Joan Laporta said, "We have the best manager in the world".
Barcelona have always been interlinked to their ball-playing culture, and Xavi - who prefers a 4-3-3 system - embodied that from the dugout after so many years of orchestration from the centre of the park.
His desire to see his players get on the ball and be enterprising in possession could bring the best out of Simons, who has endured a tough start in Tottenham but, frankly, walked into a system that struggled to establish creative patterns as a collective.
Still, he ranks among the top 9% of positional peers in the English top flight for passes attempted, the top 2% for progressive passes and the top 8% for ball recoveries per 90, data via FBref.
A pass is considered progressive if the distance between the starting point and the next touch is at least 10 meters closer to the opponent's goal or any completed pass into the penalty area.
The nifty Dutchman has proved already his quality on the major stages, and the flashes seen in the Premier League thus far suggest that he could lead the attack from number ten in Xavi's system.
Hailed as a "difference-maker in big games" by analyst Ben Mattinson, the technical skill and completeness this rising star has projected are elements that Xavi would harden and shape into something world-class.
Tottenham's new playmaker did ply his youthful trade in Barcelona's famed La Masia academy, and in this, he could thrive as Xavi's new protege.