Tottenham set for revolution after Thomas Frank has his Mauricio Pochettino moment

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Here are our Tottenham talking points after their dramatic eight-goal thriller at PSG in the Champions League on Wednesday evening

There was a moment early in Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham tenure when he realised what he had to do to survive at the north London club and perhaps that time has arrived for Thomas Frank.

Eleven years ago this month, Pochettino's era at Spurs looked to be spluttering to an end before it had barely begun. The squad he had inherited was far removed from the young, hungry one he'd had at Southampton.

There were cliques and fading stars looking out for themselves in the dressing room. Some of the older players did not take to Pochettino's ways, particularly his tough physical demands. A few completely flat out rejected his ideas and disrespected him.

So on the night of November 2, 2014, it looked like the end was nigh with Spurs sitting just three points above the relegation zone and 1-0 down at Aston Villa with six minutes of normal time remaining.

Pochettino turned to Jesus Perez and his staff in the dugout and said: "Lads pack your bags tonight, tomorrow we’re going home." He expected the sack.

Then a couple of the younger players who had bought into his methods saved him and brought him clarity.

Nacer Chadli scored an equaliser on 86 minutes and then young striker Harry Kane scored a last-gasp dramatic free-kick to turn the game and Pochettino's tenure on its head.

Pochettino would later say that in that moment everything changed in his head about how he was going to approach managing the north London club.

"We can't carry on like this. The revolution had begun. That match made us realise that to succeed at this club we had to do things our way. That game unshackled us," he said.

"Before then we had too many people around us spouting their opinions. All those voices confused me and passed their fears on to me.

"After the Villa game I found myself saying: 'I know what I've got to do. I know where to go. I'm sure I'm going to be successful, I have no doubts'. And that was that, I told my people 'It's over, we're locking the door'.

"I started to build the team in my own image. I resolved not to cave in whatever happened."

Tottenham did not win on Wednesday night in Paris and their defending in the second half gifted the Champions League holders a victory that the visitors had worked so hard in the first period to avoid.

Yet there were enough positives in a game against Europe's best to show Frank what he must do, and like Pochettino, the key lies with his younger, rapidly learning players.

For two 19-year-olds in the French capital showed more guile, fight and tactical understanding than the 11 starting Spurs players combined in Sunday's horror show at the Emirates.

It mattered not that Frank had chosen a formation in Paris without wingers, a 4-4-2 diamond formation with both the teenagers Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, along with the relatively ancient 23-year-old Pape Matar Sarr, all given licence to take turns at the tip of the midfield while Rodrigo Bentancur anchored it all.

PSG had struggled with Tottenham in Udine in August but now they had their fans roaring around them in the Parc des Princes. They duly had early chances for their wealth of stars like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Fabian Ruiz and Warren Zaïre-Emery.

Yet Tottenham's teenagers took charge in the 35th minute. With a delightful backheel, Bergvall sent Gray into the box - not the first time the duo had combined in such a way -and this time the former Leeds man's chipped cross to the back post found Randal Kolo Muani and the Frenchman headed it across for Richarlison to nod home.

"Incredible," PSG boss Luis Enrique said of Spurs' first goal after the match. "We didn’t defend very well, [but the goal was] well played really."

Quality does not sit back to applaud though and the magnificent Vitinha began to weave his magic with a rocket of a shot from the edge of the box which cannoned off the underside of the crossbar and into the net.

Spurs and their young stars were undeterred and regained the lead five minutes into the second half.

Pedro Porro launched a deep corner to the back post where Richarlison headed the ball into the path of Gray. The teenager's flicked effort was headed on to the crossbar by Zaire-Emery on the line and bounced out for Kolo Muani to smash home a powerful volley against his parent club.

The lead lasted just three minutes thanks to that man Vitinha again. The Portuguese midfielder cut inside from the right and curled a strike into the far corner, this time with his left foot.

As the ever-running Bergvall and Gray began to tire in their first starts in weeks, so Tottenham lost much of their edge and their captain Cristian Romero began his own descent towards match villain.

In the 59th minute, the Argentine played a needless pass from the edge of the Tottenham box to Pape Matar Sarr, who was caught in possession and Joao Neves picked out Ruiz to sweep home in an empty box.

Just six minutes later, a scramble in the box from a corner ended with Willian Pacho nipping in ahead of Sarr to poke the loose ball into the net.

To Spurs' credit, they were not about to give up. Bentancur robbed Vitinha in the PSG half and the ball broke to Kolo Muani, who ran on and smashed home a second goal against his employers.

Drama is rarely done with Tottenham Hotspur though and when Romero raised his arm while sliding in to block a Vitinha shot so the ball struck it and left the referee with no choice but to award the penalty that the Portuguese struck to seal his treble.

In case eight goals were not enough, along came a red card in added time as Lucas Hernandez whipped his elbow into former PSG man Xavi Simons' face.

It was a chaotic game and the defending in the second half ensured Spurs have conceded nine goals in their past two matches and 11 in three.

What makes that all the more frustrating is that if you can score five goals across two games against PSG you should be winning those encounters, even against Europe's best. Tottenham ended up losing both.

Yet there were positives and like Pochettino, perhaps Frank can find a way forward for his tenure.

"Today I saw more identity of the team I want to create, we want to create," said the Dane. "Much more character, personality, aggressiveness. Three words you need to have in any team no matter what you want to do, how you want to play, whatever formation, whatever. Today we saw it, that I'm pleased with.

"It was a performance that was up there where we could get something out of the game, a draw or a win. So that's a little frustrating thing that we conceded some goals.

"Of course, one with a little bit of margin from Vitinha, not top corner but top, top corner. And then, of course, goal three and four. Those are the ones we definitely need to avoid if we want to get something out of here, but something to build on. Strikers scoring two goals. The whole team, I think, all performed well.

"Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, positive when we played against a decent team where they have one Ballon d'Or winner and I think the next one is playing in midfield. Vitinha. Wow, what a player."

This Spurs squad learned how to play in hostile foreign atmospheres over the course of last season, their early wobbles in Europe giving way to professional displays amid the noise of their travels in the latter stages of the Europa League and then the final itself.

After returning to stumbles at Bodo and Monaco early in this campaign, they had seemed focused again for the first half in the Paris noise only to lose their way in the final half an hour.

Bergvall and Gray, who had helped save Spurs in Bodo, showed their growing experience of playing in tough atmospheres and both thrust their hands in the air for regular roles under Frank.

"Very impressive. Two young players, I said from the beginning, that I believe a lot in," Frank told football.london. "Archie was there ready before Monaco and then unfortunately picked up the calf injury.

"So we've been waiting for him to be ready again. Today he showed a lot. The way the two of them set up the first goal was also joyful to watch, but the mobility, technical, ball handling, mentality, character, I liked it."

Bergvall has been getting the minutes in since joining last year. The Swedish teen has already played 61 times for the club despite his age. Gray is just eight behind on 53 but many of his appearances have come out of his natural midfield position, in either central defence or as a full-back on either flank.

Spurs spent £40million on Gray because he is one of England's best young midfield talents. His FA Cup performance against Chelsea two seasons ago was his calling card as he dominated their stars yet Tottenham have failed to hand him the opportunities to show that ability to run matches with his energy and technique.

Wednesday night hopefully served as a reminder of what he can do and what he will become.

"The coaching staff have been absolutely brilliant with everyone, especially improving our individual games and stuff like that," said Gray after his return to the pitch. "Last season was a tough season, obviously it ended really well but a lot of tough moments in the season, especially for me playing centre-back and all these different positions, which I'm grateful for but there were loads of setbacks.

"It is just things to learn from and the coaching staff this year have been really helpful with individual plans and stuff like that."

Frank told football.london why he picked that diamond-shaped midfield including the trio of young midfielders.

"As you could see the game plan was to really go after PSG, man to man. If anyone's followed me just a tiny bit, they know that that's what I want," said the Spurs head coach.

"That's much more the identity, that aggressiveness, that dynamic into the team, and to do that against PSG, who are that fluid and that mobile all over the pitch, I thought we needed a more running, powerful midfield across the midfield four."

Gray enjoyed his role within the Dane's fluid engine room and how it matched all the players up against their counterparts.

"The pressure is just man-to-man. Find your man and stay with them," he said. "Obviously just trying to find the spaces where the midfielders don't want to track you and finding the half spaces like with the cross. It was enjoyable."

Something Frank must now utilise going forward is the bond between Gray and Bergvall. The popular duo arrived at the club together last year as wide-eyed 18-year-olds and can frequently be seen together at the training ground.

"Me and Lucas are really close," admitted Gray. "Every time we're on the pitch together, we just trust each other 100 per cent.

"Even if there is pressure on us, we know we can play to each other and we can handle that pressure. We're really close on the pitch and off it as well."

As Pochettino built a team anchored around some gifted young players with a sprinkling of senior talent, so Frank must do the same.

In Gray and Bergvall, along with Sarr, the Dane has the potential engine room of Tottenham for years to come.

He also finally got to see what Randal Kolo Muani can truly bring to his attack. Fired up on his return to the Parc des Princes, the masked Frenchman volleyed home his first goal for the club expertly and then after a little bobble fell his way as he dribbled, his second strike was clinical.

The 26-year-old's link-up play was strong on the night and he worked well in tandem with Richarlison. Kolo Muani is not afraid to drive at defences with the ball at his feet and it makes him an unpredictable problem for the opposition.

PSG know all about him but could not prevent him grabbing two goals and the cushioned assist for Richarlison.

"Today we saw what hopefully we can expect," said Frank. "I think even two goals and an assist in every game is probably too much. I would love to get that every single game.

"But as I said the whole time, he came in late with no pre-season, not top fit, had two setbacks, especially with the dead leg and then the broken jaw. Today we saw more of it. He's still not top fit. So hopefully he'll come in more."

The former Frankfurt and Juventus striker can be a real threat for Tottenham as he gets fitter and sharper and his PSG team-mate Vitinha is happy to see him enjoying his football again.

"Very pleased [for him]. He is not just a very good player but he is a good person as well," said the Portuguese. "I like Kolo a lot and I'm happy he is doing well in Tottenham. Sometimes you don't succeed at one club but it doesn't mean you are a bad player.

"It is just the context and a lot of things around you that happen and can explain that, but he shows he is more. He is succeeding at Tottenham and I wish him all the best and that he will have a great career because the guy deserves it."

While this was still a defeat and just three wins in 12 matches for Frank is a poor run of form, it felt like something more positive after the disaster on Sunday. Few teams will come to the Parc des Princes and score three goals.

The Tottenham fans inside the stadium in Paris acknowledged that and gave the players a warm ovation despite the scoreline. Despite the second half mistakes, they had seen the drive and hunger that is the minimum they ask for and they saw how Frank's team should play in spells.

"The fans were unbelievable. They have stuck with us through a lot of hard times and we can't thank them enough for the support they give us, especially after a few tough games" said Gray.

"Hopefully there were a few positives tonight that we can give them. Obviously it's not good enough these losses at a club like Tottenham, but we're going to look to improve that."

The way to improve is for Frank to be brave and put his faith in his exciting players instead of setting up with hope rather than expectation.

Saturday brings the visit of Fulham and a chance to change the horrible home form at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Frank has always been labelled as being adaptable and perhaps he's tried too hard to bend and fit to what others expect from him in this next chapter in his career, rather than ensuring his team plays with the speed, aggression and excitement that brought him to this point.

For spells in Paris, Tottenham had an identity again. That must continue. The revolution must begin for Thomas Frank.