Tottenham Hotspur adapt ‘clean sheet mentality’ | OneFootball

Tottenham’s transformation under Thomas Frank is being defined by a single phrase. Midfielder Lucas Bergvall summed it up succinctly after Tuesday’s 1-0 Champions League victory over Villarreal, reported by BBC Sport: “We talked a lot about ‘clean sheet mentality’ this year because we conceded a lot last year.”

That mentality is shaping Spurs’ early season. Four clean sheets in five matches have replaced the chaos that often surrounded Ange Postecoglou’s gung-ho approach. Villarreal, despite enjoying long spells of possession, failed to register a single shot on target.

Pragmatism Over Panache

Frank’s team took an early lead courtesy of a calamitous error by Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Junior, and rather than press for a second, Spurs leaned into their defensive shape, with Micky van de Ven outstanding at the back and Guglielmo Vicario largely untroubled.

It was a controlled display, but not without compromise. Spurs produced just one shot on target themselves, the second time in three matches they have created so little. For Frank, the balance between organisation and attacking expression remains a work in progress.

The shift in philosophy is already bearing statistical fruit. Spurs have conceded only once this season, in a 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth, compared with five at the same stage last year. Their three clean sheets in the Premier League are just two shy of their entire tally for the previous campaign.

Frank is under no illusions, though. “We have a very good foundation to stand on in terms of our defensive organisation,” he said. “Offensively is the area we need to get better.”

Spurs will next face Brighton & Hove Albion away from home in the Premier League on Saturday.

GFN | Finn Entwistle