‘I was there, I saw Tottenham devastation that could cause lasting damage’
Thomas Frank came so close to winning his first trophy with Tottenham, but succumbed to a penalty shootout defeat against PSG in the Super Cup.
While attention will now be turned to the Premier League opener against Burnley, Spurs will still be feeling the effects of their latest defeat.
Having been 2-0 up in the latter stages of the game, Tottenham fell to a penalty shootout defeat against PSG in the UEFA Super Cup final, ending Frank’s chances of immediate success in North London.
Many see the competition as a glorified friendly, but the impact on Spurs could be much greater than anticipated heading into the new campaign.
This article includes exclusive comment from former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson.
MORE SPURS STORIES
Super Cup defeat will have hurt Tottenham
At the end of the day, the UEFA Super Cup was Tottenham’s chance to win a second trophy in the space of a few months, and their failure to do that will have an effect on morale.
While Frank will find it easier to improve their domestic placement this season, he will be tasked with winning another trophy, and Paul Robinson explained how the scenes after the full-time whistle in Italy could have an influence on that.
Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, he said: “I was there, I was inside the stadium, I could see the devastation on the players’ faces. They knew how close they were to beating PSG. After 85 minutes, they were 2-0 up.
“And by the way, let’s not forget, they were also 2-0 up in the penalty shootout. They threw a 2-0 lead away twice, and they were devastated after that game.
“PSG weren’t at their utmost best, as we know, they only had a week’s pre-season.
“You just wonder what lasting damage it was there for Tottenham.”
Spurs must right their wrongs vs Burnley
As much as Spurs’ defeat to PSG will hurt, Saturday’s clash with Burnley is the start of what matters, and Frank will be looking to get off to a winning start in the league.
Given the fact that the Clarets are one of the newly-promoted teams, it is perhaps the perfect start for Tottenham, and a chance to showcase their true ability after a dismal domestic campaign last time out.
Frank needs to ensure that his players are in a fresh mindset despite the latest defeat and show no signs of regret this weekend.