While ultimately Spurs fans will have to suffer the same tired, cliched insults about the club's identity, Thomas Frank's first competitive match was in many ways a success.
Yes, forgoing a two goal lead to lose on penalties will hurt, but for the majority of the match Paris Saint-Germain were outplayed despite being overwhelming favourites ahead of this fixture.
This is what we learned from the European Super Cup final:
Midfield Balance
One of last season's great failings for the North London outfit was a midfield lacking any balance.
Yes, at times there was slick passing football and when it came off without retort it produced moments such as the heavy four goal victory over Manchester City. However, the common theme of Spurs' midfield was the ease in which it was played through.
One regular starter who took his fair share of criticism out of possession was Rodrigo Bentancur, with it never apparent whether he was playing at the base of the team, somewhere in the middle, or joining the attack. He was often chasing the ball wherever it went and exposing his defence in the process.
Last night he not doing that much differently, though perhaps with more purpose, fitness and confidence. Wherever the ball went, Bentancur followed.
However, he wasn't paired with the talented but still developing Pape Matar Sarr, who performed brilliantly in a more advanced role, nor with Yves Bissouma, a player whose discipline on the pitch mirrors his timekeeping.
Bentancur was paired with João Palhinha, making his first competitive start for Spurs, and the Portuguese anchor lived up to his reputation as one of the game's finest defensive midfielders.
The Uruguayan operates best when playing at full speed, with Palhinha's ability to read the play in front of him and extinguish Parisian fires early liberated Bentancur to do just that.
The result was something not often associated with Tottenham: a mostly untroubled defence and goalkeeper.
Scoring Set Pieces
Much as before, not the go to topic when talking about Spurs in recent times, but for the first time since Gianni Vio was deemed unnecessary, the Lilywhites looked very dangerous from set pieces. Romero and van de Ven both scored as a result of a new, more assertive approach and it could have happened on several other occasions too.
Tottenham's supporters would grimace at the thought of being known as a set piece team, but this wasn't the case, there was plenty of clever, well worked attacking football in play.
However, to actively decide against using such a fruitful route to goals is negligent, regardless of football ideals. It is good enough for Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool, so there is no excuse for Spurs to under utilise free kicks and corners when Pedro Porro has such a sweet cross and the squad is blessed with several tall, powerful footballers, not to mention the formidable throwing arm of Kevin Danso.
Set piece goals at Spurs? Get used to hearing about it as under Thomas Frank they are here to stay.
Richarlison: Is now the time?
Richarlison has been something of an enigma in his three seasons at Spurs. When fit and with confidence, which was limited to a few months in the 2023/24 season, his relentless pressing, bravery to try more than his talent suggests possible, and willingness to put his body on the line have seen him a worthy number 9 producing goals and assists.
Unfortunately this has been seldom seen, with his career at the club spent mainly injured or recovering (slowly) from injury. This version is cumbersome, ineffective and seemingly lost.
Needless to say this has frustrated Spurs fans.
However, last night saw a pressing demon, a player determined to both win the ball quickly and hold onto the ball under pressure. He also retained his position as well as we've every seen, running smart instead of hard, and needed close attention at all times from compatriot Marquinhos.
The cherry on the cake would have been a goal, but his snapshot from distance had to be acrobatically saved by Lucas Chevalier. A Richarlison in this mood, however, will be a welcome alternative to Dominic Solanke in the coming season.
The question mark remains regarding Richarlison's fitness, - and with good reason - but if his injury problems are behind him then this season will see genuine competition to start up front for Spurs, something not seen since times that predate Harry Kane.
Need to go deeper
Perhaps not a completely new learning, but last night did expose that this Spurs squad still needs reinforcements. The Tottenham defence was 'mostly' untroubled, and that was because eventually trouble did come and punish Thomas Frank's side. The reason? Pahlinha, Sarr, Kudus and Richarlison were withdrawn, but the replacements were inadequate.
Archie Gray, Mathys Tel - who sadly received racist abuse following his penalty miss - and Lucas Bergvall are in isolation all talented young footballers with great futures. They all will start important matches in the coming season, but for them to make up 80% of the changes in a high pressure match does not back up Daniel Levy's claims of wanting sustained success.
Add in that Dominic Solanke, while experienced, was returning from injury, and these changes left Spurs unable to keep up with PSG for the remainder of the match.
The result was that Spurs were left without the success it had earned for the majority of the match, which even opposing manager Luis Enrique acknowledged in the aftermath. However, teams win matches, squads win titles, and last night the deeper squad won the title in question.
If Tottenham Hotspur is to become a name synonymous with silverware again, if the club is to build on last season's glory, it is now time to dare and to do, not just take calculated risks. Training at Hotspur Way is littered with exceptional young footballers, but that is mostly the future.
In the present, this squad is not fit for purpose and Frank, like his predecessor, will need to decide which competitions to prioritise if this does not change by the end of the transfer window.