Thomas Frank picks Vitinha as ‘next Ballon d’Or winner’ after Tottenham Hotspur's UEFA Champions League defeat to Paris Saint

Thomas Frank picks Vitinha as ‘next Ballon d’Or winner’ after Tottenham Hotspur's UEFA Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain

Vitinha proved himself as one of the world's best midfielders with a virtuoso display against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night. Questions had been asked of this Paris Saint-Germain side after a matchday four defeat to Bayern Munich, but the reigning champions showed they still have the quality to go all the way once again in Europe, and Spurs boss Thomas Frank was in awe of Vitinha's quality.

Thomas Frank is tipping Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha to win the Ballon d’Or after his hat-trick in the 5-3 UEFA Champions League win over Tottenham Hotspur.

The Portuguese was the star of the show in a pulsating contest at the Parc des Princes, in what was his first career hat-trick, with Fabian Ruiz and Willian Pacho also on target for the hosts.

Spurs twice took the lead against the reigning champions, but Vitinha’s two brilliant strikes and a goal from the penalty spot were ultimately decisive on the night.

Frank made the comments while addressing his own team’s performance, and admitted they were the architects of their own downfall in some respects.

"There is a frustration when you go 1-0 up and 2-1 up against PSG away from home," he told TNT Sports.

"The performance was to really get something out of the game - a point or three points. That was the performance.

"You hope Vitinha doesn't put the ball in the top corner. That was very tricky. Then the two goals, their third and fourth, you can't concede them if you want to win here.

"By the way, Vitinha, best midfielder in the world, he'll be the next Ballon d'Or winner for me."

Despite falling to defeat, this was a Spurs performance which showed more fight than their meek display in Sunday’s 4-1 north London derby defeat against Arsenal.

Frank claimed that was one of the key positives to take from the match, alongside the goals for PSG loanee Randal Kolo Muani and Richarlison.

"I'm very pleased with the performance, I liked the bounce back from the setback in the last game," he explained.

"This showed more of the identity of the team. The aggressivity, the bravery, going forward, running at them, just everything about the performance. I was very pleased with that.

"Another positive from the game, two strikers scoring three goals between them. I think the whole team performed well overall. I think Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall in midfield, looked really, really good."

Frank elaborated more on Kolo Muani’s display after the Frenchman’s troubled start to his loan spell at Spurs.

He scored his first two goals since arriving at the club last summer, and the Spurs boss hopes the 26-year-old can use that performance as a springboard for the remainder of the season.

"I think that can definitely be a turning point, and the two goals give you some confidence to go forward," Frank continued.

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"He's been struggling a little bit with form for various reasons. He had a setback with the dead leg, a broken jaw, and came to us not being fit. Now it looks better and better, and we saw the best of him."

Spurs' focus now turns to the Premier League when they host Fulham on Saturday, looking to end a run of three games without a win across all competitions.

They welcome The Cottagers to north London sitting ninth in the table ahead of the weekend, but just three points adrift of the top four.

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