PREVIEW: Can Tottenham Hotspur build on Europa League triumph? | OneFootball

Thomas Frank needs to shake off Wednesday’s defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup as Tottenham Hotspur are set to kick off their domestic campaign, and that defeat has fueled the question: can they build on the silverware they won last season?

Tottenham will host Burnley on Saturday at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to initiate their Premier League season.

Spurs have acquired reinforcements over the summer to bolster their squad in preparation for a busy calendar.

They miraculously qualified for Champions League football after winning the Europa League last season, despite coming 17th in the Premier League.

Spurs’ busy transfer window

Tottenham’s busy summer transfer window has provided Thomas Frank with an influx of options in the attacking third. Mohammed Kudus signed from West Ham for £55m, while Mathys Tel made his move permanent in a £30m deal with Bayern Munich.

Spurs captain Son Heung-min departed North London after ten years at the club, signing for LAFC, reuniting with former Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris. Frank is searching for a replacement, with Eberechi Eze and Savinho potential options.

Son said: “My dream was to play in the Premier League and do whatever I can, try to be the best player in the world,” adding, “I think probably [joining Spurs was] one of the best decisions I’ve ever made”.

“I’m very proud of what I achieved for this amazing football club, and I’m very proud to be honest. What I achieved as an individual, as a collective, is something special.”

João Palhinha’s loan move from Bayern Munich is a statement of intent ahead of the Premier League season. The Portuguese international joined the German champions from Fulham in 2024, but was confined to only 17 Bundesliga appearances last season.

The 30-year-old completed the most tackles (300) in the Premier League during his tenure at Craven Cottage, more than Moises Caicedo (191) and Tyrick Mitchell (176) during this period.

FC Bayern board member, Max Eberl, said: “João Palhinha unfortunately didn’t get the game time he hoped for at FC Bayern last season. We’ve found the best solution for all sides with Tottenham Hotspur. João can have a whole season at the top European level there. We wish him all the best for the year ahead.”

Frank also bolstered his defence with the permanent signing of Kevin Danso, initially arriving on loan from Lens in February. The Austrian centre-back was ultimately a key component in Ange Postecoglou’s defence in the absence of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero.

New arrivals Luka Vuskovic and Kota Takai will also compete with Danso for the centre-back role. Vuskovic had a spectacular debut for the club in a 2-0 victory against Reading, contributing a goal and an assist.

Tottenham loaned out several youngsters and academy prospects, with Mikey Moore’s move to Rangers and Min-Hyeok Yang’s to Championship side Portsmouth. Will Lankshear and Jamie Donley will join Yang in the Championship this season, signing for Oxford United and Stoke City, respectively.

Frank steps up as Postecoglou departs

Thomas Frank replaced Ange Postecoglou this summer following a dismal Premier League season under the Australian.

The Danish manager will bring his expertise from fellow London club Brentford, installing a fresh system of attacking football at a club desperate for change.

Spurs suffered their lowest Premier League finish since the competition’s inception, plummeting to 17th in the standings. This was their lowest finish in the top flight of English football since 1977, when they were relegated from the First Division in 22nd place.

Frank has stuck to his principles since arriving in North London. His assertiveness was exhibited when he chose to exclude Yves Bissouma from the UEFA Super Cup squad for “disciplinary reasons”.

He made this decision because the Mali international has “been late several times” to training, and expressed how this occurrence “was one too many”.

The Tottenham boss could have achieved his first trophy with the club on his competitive debut. However, Luis Enrique’s European champions proved to be too much for the English side, but the contest illustrated how Spurs can once again battle at the peak of European football.

Mixed results throughout pre-season

Tottenham opened their preseason campaign with an encouraging trip to Reading in a 2-0 victory. Thomas Frank provided two different squads for either half, with goals from youngsters Will Lankshear and Luka Vuskovic securing Spurs’ first win of pre-season.

On 26 July, Spurs managed to draw two friendly matches against Wycombe Wanderers and Luton Town – the former a 2-2 draw and the latter a 0-0 deadlock. Pape Matar Sarr scored twice against Wycombe, but it was ultimately cancelled out by Junior Quitirna’s brace.

Spurs travelled to Hong Kong for a North London derby against Arsenal. A halfway line screamer from Sarr gave Tottenham the advantage and ultimately the win ahead of the 2025/26 season.

However, in Tottenham’s final pre-season friendly match, Bayern Munich annihilated Frank’s side 4-0, with former Spurs striker Harry Kane not showing any mercy.

In the UEFA Super Cup, Tottenham squandered a 2-0 lead in the final stages of the match as a second major trophy in 2025 slipped from their grasp. They will again hope for silverware in either domestic or European competitions this season with a new coach and system now in place.

Rejuvenated Sarr is one to watch

Pape Matar Sarr was a rejuvenated player over pre-season and was incredible throughout Tottenham’s Super Cup tie against Paris Saint-Germain.

The 22-year-old scored both goals in a friendly contest against Wycombe Wanderers at Hotspur Way. He also scored an astonishing goal from the halfway line against Arsenal in a North London derby recreated on the opposite side of the world in Hong Kong.

The Senegalese midfielder joined Spurs in 2021 from FC Metz for £14.6m, but initially rejoined his former club on a season-long loan. Since permanently joining the side in 2022, he has provided aptitude to a struggling Tottenham side under Antonio Conte and subsequently Ange Postecoglou.

Sarr was in a more advanced position ahead of Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur on Wednesday. This seemed to work, but two unfortunate late goals derailed any optimism heading into the penalty shootout, which he did not participate in.

The youngster will hope to be included in Tottenham’s opening Premier League match against Burnley on Saturday to secure his place in Frank’s preferred eleven.

Kudus’ vital signing for Spurs

Mohammed Kudus’ acquisition from West Ham has been a blessing to this Spurs side. He has shown width and creativity in the attacking third throughout Tottenham’s pre-season friendlies and the Super Cup against PSG.

He grabbed a debut assist against Reading, teeing up a sensational strike from 18-year-old Luka Vuskovic. The Ghanaian forward was outstanding on Wednesday and will be a huge asset to Tottenham’s domestic and European aspirations this season.

Kudus last appeared in the Champions League in 2022 for Ajax, but following his transfer to West Ham in 2023, he was confined to Europa League action.

Tottenham’s European success last season in the Europa League means their progression to the Champions League will lay the foundations for Kudus’ imminent return to the competition.