Thomas Frank has big decisions to make for his starting XI ahead of beginning the Premier League campaign against Burnley.
Sign up to our LondonWorld Today newsletter
Sign up
Thank you for signing up!
Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to LondonWorld, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.
Submitting...
Tottenham Hotspur kick off their Premier League campaign against Burnley on Saturday and Thomas Frank is looking to bounce back from midweek UEFA Super Cup defeat.
For 85 minutes, it looked as if Spurs would get the better of the French giants and add a piece of silverware to the cabinet at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, before a late capitulation and penalty defeat.
Speaking ahead of Burnley, Frank said: “Every game has its own challenges. The challenge tomorrow, of course, can we get enough tempo in the game? Can we play quick enough? How do we break down the low block of a 5-4-1? That’s the focus, let’s keep the tempo, keep the intensity, make sure we put pressure on them.”
Tottenham Hotspur predicted XI to face Burnley
Goalkeeper: Guglielmo Vicario
Defenders: Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky Van de Ven, Djed Spence
Spurs were porous under Ange Postecoglou last season and that will need to change in order to avoid another underwhelming campaign this time around. However, there’s been little new blood at the back with Thomas Frank likely to deploy a familiar looking back four in front of Vicario.
There had been talk of Romero quitting the club this summer with Atletico Madrid linked, but he now looks set to play a big role as captain. Porro has been handed a busy role by the new manager while Van de Ven will look to bounce back from his penalty heartbreak midweek.
Thomas Frank on ‘phenomenal’ Richarlison
Midfielders: Joao Palihinha, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr
There could be new faces in midfield and in attack. Joao Palhinha was only signed earlier this month and Frank admitted he is going to need some time to get up to pace following his first outing against Bayern Munich. The manager said: “I think it’s natural – there’s been, how can you say, a very short turnaround. He just came back, and he hasn’t played much for a long time. So, getting 45 good minutes into him was positive. He still needs a bit of a build-up.”
However, the former Fulham man could be fast tracked with injuries to James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, while Yves Bissouma was left out against Paris Saint-Germain for disciplinary reasons. Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Matar Sarr have emerged as favourites in pre-season.
Forwards: Mohammed Kudus, Richarlison, Wilson Odobert
Spurs paid £55 million to snap up Mohammed Kudus from West Ham and he’s already looking a shoo-in. Dominic Solanke returned from injury against PSG but a starting berth against Burnley could come too soon. Mathys Tel and Brennan Johnson will be hoping for a role on the left but Wilson Odobert has seen a good handful of pre-season minutes and appears liked by Frank.
Speaking about Richarlison, Frank said: “I think Richy was really phenomenal (against PSG), his hold up play, his intensity, his pressing, his arriving in the box, some of it was really top, his attitude, top, top, top. I hope to see more of that. Of course, we’re aware of the fitness situation
“ That's something we've monitored closely. That's why, for example, he didn't play the first friendly against Reading, because he didn’t feel he was ready. We’ll do our best to help him. He's very focused, that's the main thing, and hopefully he can keep those levels.”
In other news, Tottenham starting XI with Eberechi Eze as Crystal Palace 'braced' for bid.