Alasdair Gold has predicted that Thomas Frank may do something unusual for Tottenham’s opening Premier League game against Burnley, given the difficult challenge that the Dane faces in the lead-up to the clash.
Although Tottenham face some challenging fixtures in the early part of their Premier League season, Frank could not have asked for a more straightforward start than taking on newly-promoted Burnley at home.
However, that will not be the Dane’s first competitive game in charge of the Lilywhites as there is a small matter of the UEFA Super Cup clash against Paris Saint-Germain in Udine on August 13.
Tottenham have some good omens ahead of the PSG clash, but the Parisians go into the game as overwhelming favourites, given how they dominated last season’s Champions League and reached the finals of the Club World Cup.
Thomas Frank may be forced to make unusual decision for Burnley clash
Spurs Web has previously covered that Tottenham face an extremely tight turnaround after the Super Cup clash, with just three days between the game at Udine and their season opener.
Alasdair Gold has now pointed out that Frank might have just one day on the training ground to prepare for the clash against the Clarets.
As a result, the journalist suggested that the new Spurs head coach could decide to rotate his squad for their Premier League season opener, which Tottenham fans are never used to seeing.
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When asked about the clash against PSG and Burnley, Gold said in a Q&A on Football.London: “The PSG clash does look rather terrifying right now with the form they are in, but if Spurs can get Gibbs-White through the door with Kudus and some other statement signings before that August 13 game, then some nerves might be dulled.
“I’m also clinging to the fact that the Champions League winners reached the Club World Cup final, so will need to have the next three weeks off at least, meaning they will only return to training just days before the Super Cup in Udine. They might not be as sharp as we’re seeing them right now. That’s what I’m desperately clinging to anyway.
“As for the Burnley game, I do think some people are forgetting, or have not realised yet, how soon that game comes after the PSG match. Spurs will likely arrive back in the UK in the early hours of Thursday and will need to recover that day. They will only have Friday’s final light training session to prepare for the Premier League opener the next day.
“Frank is going to have to rotate his squad on the opening day of the season, which is something we’ve never had to see before and it does raise the chances of an upset, as we saw with Spurs’ games in the final months of last season as they focused on the Europa League. It will be an eye-opener for both him and us.”
Chelsea have given Tottenham Super Cup hope
In a funny twist of fate, Tottenham’s fierce rivals, Chelsea, have given Thomas Frank’s men hope of causing an upset against PSG in the Super Cup clash.
The Blues dismantled the Ligue 1 giants in the Club World Cup final, putting three past them and keeping a clean sheet, thus showing that the European champions are vulnerable on the counter-attack.
Frank would have undoubtedly watched that game closely, and his tactical plan against the Parisians could be similar to the one Enzo Maresca’s men employed on Saturday.