tottenhamhotspurnews.com

Champions League expert makes exciting Tottenham prediction that fans will love

Tottenham fans have a lot to look forward to during their return to the Champions League.

Thomas Frank will commence his first Champions League campaign when Tottenham take on Villarreal at home on Tuesday evening.

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is usually jam-packed on match days. But it has since been revealed that Tottenham and Frank will be greeted by empty seats on 16 September.

The dip in the home crowd could be a difficult barrier to overcome, but the Dane will be determined to end his debut in the competition on a high note.

Andy Brassell predicts top eight for Tottenham

A supercomputer recently predicted that Tottenham have a minimal chance of making the Champions League final.

MORE SPURS STORIES

However, European football expert Andy Brassell told talkSPORT on Tuesday that Spurs have a “great chance” of making the top eight.

“If we talk about pacing ourselves and Jeff Stelling was talking about the physical load on players and squads, I think Spurs are in a really interesting position,” he said.

“If you look at the fixtures they’ve drawn, it’s not the worst run of fixtures anyone’s got.

“But I just wonder, obviously, people look at Liverpool and Arsenal, Spurs are going to be able to ease into this. I think they’ve got a great chance of making the top eight, and then you get that rest in February when everyone else is playing a double header.”

With the Joe Lewis family prioritising Spurs’ sporting success over other ventures, a top-eight finish would be a welcome feat.

What is Tottenham and Villarreal’s recent form?

This will be the first meeting between Tottenham and Villarreal in a European competition, and it is a highly anticipated confrontation.

The last time the two sides met was during a friendly in 2010, where the Spanish team bagged a 4-1 victory over the North London side.

Heading into the game, Spurs have won three in their last five games while Villarreal have won two.

A win against Villarreal could be crucial for boosting morale for the remaining Champions League games.

Tottenham recently put three past West Ham to secure another Premier League victory at the London Stadium. But with all eyes now on the challenge ahead, Spurs’ recent form in the league may have little influence on the outcome of their upcoming game.

Martin Ho reveals how he will ‘make a difference’ with Tottenham Women

Tottenham Women look to have entered a new era under Martin Ho.

Tottenham sacked Robert Vilahamn after an 11th-place finish in the Women’s Super League last season.

Ho was subsequently appointed by Tottenham to transform the team into a more competitive side.

Tottenham Women’s opening clash against West Ham ended in a victory, while another win over Everton followed. Despite the small sample size, things seem to be looking up.

Martin Ho reveals his desire to raise Tottenham Women’s ‘ceiling’

Back-to-back victories in the WSL for Tottenham Women have definitely made it easier for fans to back Ho.

MORE SPURS STORIES

The new coach was handed several reinforcements over the summer. Japan international Toko Koga arrived at Tottenham Women, while Molly Bartrip and Luana Buhler both extended their contracts with Spurs.

But given his limited experience coaching in the WSL in a permanent managerial position, there were some reservations about Ho’s appointment.

Nevertheless, he seems determined to take the North London club to the next level, telling The Standard on Tuesday, 16 September that he intended to “make a difference.”

He said: “The thing that gets me out of bed is I know I’ve got to come in and make this player better, I’ve got to come in and do this to make a difference.

“Me having that in my head, that little bit of added pressure, makes me give myself that extra 10 or 15 per cent. But I know I back myself as a coach to bring more out of a player. Every player has a ceiling, but I believe that within this group, we haven’t got anywhere near anyone’s ceiling yet.

“When you get these world-class talents in, you should still be able to develop them, no matter age, where they’ve come from, where they’ve played. I know that we can make anyone better, and I’ll make sure this environment continues to do that.”

How have Tottenham Women performed in the WSL so far?

Tottenham Women have had a promising start to their 2025/26 WSL campaign following a disappointing end last season.

As well as back-to-back victories, Spurs are yet to concede a goal, keeping two clean sheets in two games.

Ho has created a team that attacks and defends as a unit. One able to keep possession and create chances, but also defend when the opposition is on the attack.

While it is still early days, this compactness was something Vilahamn lacked during his final stretch in North London.

There will no doubt be an eagerness for Ho to keep things up. But given the results the Lilywhites are already producing, it seems the decision to sack Vilahamn is well on its way to being vindicated.

Tottenham fans will be loving the positivity surrounding their Women’s side.

Tottenham Hotspur are back in Champions League action on Tuesday.

Thomas Frank’s side come into the game against Villarreal off the back of an impressive 3-0 win at West Ham on Saturday.

Tottenham are back in the Champions League for the first time since the 22/23 season, where they were knocked out by AC Milan.

Spurs welcome Villarreal to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as they look to start their European adventure with a win.

The Europa League holders will be targeting a deep run in the Champions League with a squad capable of competing with the best sides in the competition.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Former Arsenal midfielder in line to feature for Villarreal

Spurs will face Villarreal for the first time in a competitive fixture in the opening round of Champions League fixtures.

Thomas Partey was one of the summer signings for the La Liga outfit, joining on a free transfer from Arsenal.

The midfielder returns to North London for the first time since leaving the Gunners, and there has been an update on his legal issues ahead of the game.

Partey, who is facing trial for rape, is due in Southwark Crown Court just hours after Villarreal’s Champions League fixture at Spurs.

The former Arsenal player will appear in court on Wednesday morning, 17 September, to answer the charges against him.

The 32-year-old is accused of five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. The allegations relate to three women, who reported incidents which took place between 2021 and 2022.

The Ghanaian denies all charges that have been brought against him.

Partey has featured in all four La Liga games for his new side, both starting and coming off the bench.

Tottenham have players to cause problems in Europe

Spurs have enjoyed a good start to the season domestically and will look to bring it into Europe.

Frank has some decisions to make in the starting XI as he looks to balance his squad across the season.

Randal Kolo Muani could make his Tottenham debut, while fellow new signing Xavi Simons may get his second successive start.

João Palhinha and Lucas Bergvall have been excellent in midfield and will be looking to continue their good form.

Mohammed Kudus and Richarlison are also options up front, with Frank looking to utilise his squad depth for a deep Champions League run.

Ex-Tottenham boss odds slashed on him being new Rangers manager amid Ibrox crisis

Tottenham could see another former manager back in action over the coming days.

Ange Postecoglou is the most recent Spurs manager to take up a new position. Postecoglou was sacked by Tottenham over the summer after a series of poor Premier League performances.

The Lilywhites finished 17th during the 2024/25 season and suffered 22 defeats – the most without facing relegation.

Postecoglou replaced former Spurs manager Nuno Espirito Santo at Nottingham Forest earlier this month. However, a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal has many questioning whether Forest is the right fit for the previous Tottenham coach.

But Postecoglou is not the only former Lilywhites coach who could settle into a new position this month, with Rangers nearly in crisis at Ibrox.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Jose Mourinho has 5/1 chance to become Rangers boss

Tottenham loaned Mikey Moore to Rangers over the summer to continue his development plan.

However, the Spurs loanee’s start at his temporary club has come with its trials and tribulations. Rangers currently sit 10th in the Scottish Premiership after failing to win a single one of their five games.

As a result, Russell Martin is in danger of getting the sack less than four months after taking over.

Former Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has emerged as a candidate to replace the current Rangers manager if he does go.

According to Sky Bet on Tuesday, 16 September, Mourinho has a 5/1 chance of taking over at Ibrox, with his odds already slashed.

It was suggested that Mourinho wanted to sign Spurs midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur at Fenerbahce. However, the ‘Special One’ was recently dismissed from his position in Turkey after just over a year at the helm.

What was Jose Mourinho’s record at Tottenham?

Mourinho spent 516 days in charge at the North London club, which was full of ups and downs.

In 86 games played, the Portuguese coach won 45 games, was defeated on 24 occasions and saw 17 matches end in a draw.

Despite this, he was sacked by Tottenham after a poor run of Premier League form. His final game was a 2-2 draw with Everton after winning just one of his last five league games.

After an inconsistent couple of seasons, Mourinho will be hoping that his next job will mark a positive turn – could that be at Rangers?

Tottenham have undergone several dramatic changes over the past couple of months.

Change has been the biggest motivation in North London since June.

Ange Postecoglou was replaced by Thomas Frank, while Vinai Venkatesham officially got to work as Spurs CEO.

Daniel Levy stepping down as Tottenham chairman came as a shock to most involved at Spurs. Levy had held the position for almost 25 years and, in several respects, had become the face of the club.

But the Joe Lewis family seem determined to transform Tottenham, even if it means making a few unpopular decisions along the way.

MORE SPURS STORIES

This article includes exclusive comments from Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham.

Adam Gardiner appointment sparks concern

Tottenham appointed Adam Gardiner as their new Chief Marketing Officer shortly after Levy vacated his position.

The Lilywhites pinched him from Arsenal, similar to Venkatesham, whose work at Tottenham has already been praised.

However, Tottenham expert and Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – has highlighted some poor habits at Arsenal, sparking legitimate concern.

“Apparently, he’s very good, from people who have worked with him or tweets I’ve seen,” Wenham said.

“My only concern is that Arsenal over the last five to seven years have been run more as a fashion house than a football team, with constant launches of new kits to hide from defeats or disappointing performances.

“So as long as the focus is certainly on football and pushing Tottenham on at that level. I’m far more interested in that than a new eighth kit for the season.”

Tottenham are entering a new era

The Lewis family have made Spurs’ sporting success their chief priority moving forward. As such, they have already taken several steps to meet their objective.

Venkatesham has begun transforming the Lilywhites’ communications department, incorporating an element of openness into the club’s structure. Fans have been at the heart of the project, with feedback taken on board by Spurs’ senior figures.

The Lilywhites’ recent transfer window has been seen as another step in this new direction. Spurs signing of Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig is hoped to be the start of several elite transfers. Meanwhile, Randal Kolo Muani, arriving on loan from PSG, came as a shock on deadline day.

Therefore, Spurs are entering a new era where sporting results have become the cornerstone of their project and business ventures have taken a backseat.

Thomas Frank has revitalised Tottenham’s Premier League form following a horrible 17th-place finish under Ange Postecoglou last season.

Frank’s side once again looked excellent on Saturday as Tottenham comfortably beat West Ham, with that win seeing Spurs move up to third in the table.

The Dane was named Spurs boss in June following seven years in charge at Brentford. With how Spurs have started the season, that appointment looks to have paid off and then some.

Spurs kick off their Champions League campaign against Villarreal on Tuesday. This is their first time in Europe’s premier club competition since the 2022/23 season under Antonio Conte.

Tottenham had training on Monday in preparation for a busy week, with a clash against Brighton following hot on the heels of the clash against Villarreal on Tuesday.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Cristian Romero seen doing push-ups as punishment

Cristian Romero was appointed Tottenham captain in August and has led by example on the pitch. He has helped keep three clean sheets in only four league games so far.

According to Football.London, during Monday’s training session, the Argentinian defender was made to do push-ups after being in the middle too often during a rondo.

While far from a serious punishment, the discipline being instilled by Frank into this squad demonstrates the expectations placed upon them. It shows that not even the captain is exempt from being punished.

After Romero’s push-ups, the two were seen hugging and laughing together. A good relationship between the manager and skipper will prove vital in maintaining a positive atmosphere in the dressing room as the season wears on.

Fans have had plenty to feel good about on the pitch, and were ecstatic when it was recently announced that Daniel Levy stepped down as chairman.

Thomas Frank’s tactics are what Tottenham needed

Spurs’ frailties last season were often blamed on Ange Postecoglou’s tactics. While Tottenham’s results have been impressive, what is really noticeable is how Spurs have evolved in their style.

Frank has organised his team and given them a clear, much more pragmatic approach than they had last year. They are playing with much less risk on the defensive side, and that has helped them massively.

Tottenham did not struggle in finding the back of the net last year, but now they have a system that is working to get the best out of already world-class defenders.

With both sides of the ball looking reliable, why can’t Spurs kick on and compete across all four fronts? Signs of promise are already clearly there that something special is in the works in North London.

Where are they now? Tottenham’s last Champions League starting XI ahead of Villarreal tie

Tottenham begin their Champions League campaign against Villarreal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday.

Spurs have never won the Champions League, but did reach the final in 2019.

Thomas Frank’s enjoyed a promising start to life at Tottenham, with the club sitting third in the Premier League.

Tottenham won the Europa League last season, meaning that they will play in Europe’s elite competition for the first time since 2022/23, when Antonio Conte was in charge.

Three Tottenham starters remain from 0-0 draw vs AC Milan

Spurs crashed out of the round of 16 in 2023, losing 1-0 on aggregate to AC Milan.

MORE SPURS STORIES

The second leg finished 0-0, and only three of the starters on that day currently remain at the club.

Brahim Diaz’s first-leg strike at the San Siro was enough to see off Tottenham, with the loss signalling the beginning of the end of Conte’s reign at the club.

Of the players that remain at the club today, Dejan Kulusevski, Cristian Romero and Ben Davies all started that day, whilst Pape Matar Sarr, Richarlison and Brandon Austin were on the bench.

Romero was sent off in the second leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as Spurs managed just two shots on target in the whole match.

The starting lineup was:

Club legends Kane and Son have left the club for Germany and North America, respectively, whilst Forster was released this summer.

Perisic enjoyed Dutch glory with PSV last season, whilst Lenglet and Hojbjerg will also feature in the Champions League for Atletico Madrid and Marseille.

Since that match, 923 days have passed, and Spurs are back amongst Europe’s elite, where they wish to put down a marker against a resilient Villarreal side.

Tottenham must be wary of tricky Villarreal test

Tottenham will need to perform well if they’re to pick up three points against Villarreal, with the Spanish side currently fifth in La Liga.

During pre-season, they went to the Emirates and beat Arsenal, and only suffered their first loss of the season against Atletico Madrid.

Former Arsenal star Nicolas Pepe is in red-hot form, whilst former Spurs full-back Juan Foyth is set for a reunion with the club he spent three years at.

Tuesday’s match is not their easiest nor their hardest league phase match, but Spurs will need to be alert to Villarreal’s counter-attacking style.

Xavi Simons was superb against West Ham and will look to star in the Champions League for Spurs, whilst Lucas Bergvall will hope to retain his place in the team following his man-of-the-match performance at the London Stadium.

Tottenham are unlikely to win the Champions League, but a strong performance against The Yellow Submarine could send a message of intent out to their rivals.

Tottenham could face a disadvantage heading into the game against Villarreal on Tuesday.

Tottenham welcome Villarreal to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in their opening UEFA Champions League game on 16 September.

The match comes after Spurs obtained all three points against West Ham in a 3-0 victory at the London Stadium. Now third in the Premier League table, the Lilywhites will feel confident heading into the confrontation.

However, Thomas Frank is set to encounter a small issue as the hours tick down before facing the Spanish side.

Tottenham tickets to face Villarreal remain on sale

Randal Kolo Muani’s Tottenham debut could come against Villarreal, as well as three other changes to the team who travelled to the London Stadium.

MORE SPURS STORIES

However, the Paris Saint-Germain loanee could debut in front of thousands of empty seats at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

According to The Mail on 15 September, the opening fixture has not grabbed the “public imagination”, with a crowd of 54,000 expected, but tickets remained on sale at the time of writing.

Two reasons have emerged for the low uptake, including blame over ticket prices ranging from £27 to £96 and the “limited appeal” of the opposition.

As a result, Frank could have more than Dominic Solanke’s injury to worry about heading into the confrontation.

Tottenham and Villarreal’s record heading into the game

Tottenham and Villarreal have met once before in a 4-1 friendly won by the La Liga side in 2010.

Fast forward, and Spurs’ recent form slightly edges their opposition. Indeed, the Lilywhites have won three in their last five, losing against Bournemouth and drawing against PSG in the UEFA Super Cup final before missing out on penalties.

Meanwhile, Villarreal have won two in their last five, losing two and drawing against Celta Vigo in La Liga.

With their mighty form and a home advantage, Tottenham are expected to bag a win on the night.

However, with Frank’s only experience of managing in a European competition coming during the UEFA Europa League qualifiers, it could be an uphill battle for the Lilywhites.

Tottenham have started the season so well that all the focus has been on their performing stars.

It is difficult to know where to start, with Xavi Simons dazzling on his Spurs debut and Richarlison a player reborn.

However, it could even be argued that Tottenham have one of the best defences in the Premier League, which is a notion that would have been laughed at last term.

Although Thomas Frank’s side are going from strength to strength, they could get even better with one man in their ranks.

This article includes exclusive comments from Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Some Tottenham fans have forgotten about Dejan Kulusevski

Spurs have been without Kulusevski since the Sweden international injured his knee against Crystal Palace in May.

Last season, the midfielder was a rare positive in a campaign that was doused in injuries and negativity.

However, Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – has reminded some supporters just how good Kulusevski is.

“I personally think people are sort of sleeping on how good he is and then forgetting how good he is,” Wenham said.

“Last season, I know it was a tough season in the league, but he was comfortable until he got injured. Head and shoulders, not only our best player, but one of the best players in the Premier League in terms of his overall contribution.

“I think he’s an outstanding player, and I keep seeing people’s predicted best lineups when everyone’s fit and anyone not including him is deluded, quite frankly. He walks into our 11, whether that’s a number 10 or as the right-winger, I’m not sure.”

Which Spurs players could make way for Dejan Kulusevski?

Kulusevski is set to return to the pitch for Tottenham within the next three months.

It will be intriguing to see how the Lilywhites are faring when he returns and whether they are genuine contenders for another trophy.

Of course, he must return to match fitness, but when he does, who could make way for the Swede?

Since his injury, the North London club have acquired more creative flair in Simons and Randal Kolo Muani.

Indeed, while Simons could play in a central role, it would be hard to accommodate both into Frank’s team.

However, if the former PSG man continues how he started, then Frank will have no choice but to find a way to play them together.

One of them will surely have to play out wide, meaning Brennan Johnson or Richarlison will probably be the biggest losers from Kulusevski’s return.

While it may be viewed as a headache, Frank’s team will only grow stronger when the 25-year-old returns to full fitness.

Tottenham return to action on Tuesday when they host Villarreal in their first Champions League match of the season.

There is a buzz among supporters with Spurs competing in the Champions League for the first time since the 2022/23 season following victory in the Europa League last year.

Tottenham looked excellent in the win over West Ham on Saturday as new summer signing Xavi Simons notched an assist in his debut following his arrival from RB Leipzig.

Thomas Frank will look to carry his team’s good form into his first-ever season managing in a European club competition.

Tottenham vs Villarreal TV and Streaming channels

Tottenham take on Villarreal with kick-off set for 8:00 PM (BST). Pre-game coverage will begin at 6:30 PM (BST).

MORE SPURS STORIES

The match will be available exclusively for streaming on Amazon Prime. The match will be free to watch for those who already have a Prime subscription.

Frank is expected to make changes for the game against Villarreal

Fans will have plenty to be excited about as Randal Kolo Muani is expected to make his Spurs debut as he signed on loan from PSG on deadline day.

Fellow summer arrival Mohammed Kudus has impressed so far, but has yet to score his first goal for the club.

Tottenham were eliminated in the round of 16 against AC Milan in their most recent Champions League campaign.

Tottenham will not have much time to rest following this match as they travel to the South coast on Saturday to take face Brighton. That will be their third match in only seven days.

Tottenham have the depth to compete in Champions League

Frank brought in many players over the summer window, which has added much-needed depth to this Tottenham team.

They were able to win the Europa League despite their torrid time with injuries throughout most of last season, but that should hopefully not prove to be an issue this year.

Spurs’ start to the league season shows signs of real promise, and with the way the new signings have been playing so far, who is to say Tottenham cannot go far in the Champions League?

The defeat to PSG in the Supercup was heartbreaking, but it proved the ability of this Tottenham side to compete with the very best sides in the world and with more time under the guidance of Frank, this team will only improve.