Tottenham: Thomas Frank can turn attention to uninspired forwards as bolstered back line hits stride | OneFootball

Spurs were rock solid at the back in their Champions League opener, but lacked attacking impetus

Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Matt Verri

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A 1-0 win got Tottenham back in the Champions League and a 1-0 win got them up and running in the competition.

The lower-stakes nature of Tuesday night’s clash with Villarreal opened up room for more scrutiny on the nature of the performance.

What was all the fuss about? Much had been made of this being Thomas Frank’s first Champions League match, but this was a gift that might have taken him back to the start of his coaching career, with the Under-8s of his hometown club Frederiksvaerk.

However, that was really as good as it got for Spurs. They had just one shot on target in the match, a Pape Matar Sarr strike from distance. A second goal never felt particularly imminent.

Some of that was by design. Frank did not set his side up to push for more goals, prioritising instead a structured, pragmatic approach.

Many of Spurs’ most dangerous moments from open play this season have come from high pressing but there was little of that against Villarreal, as Spurs sat off and backed themselves not to be broken down.

No nonsense: Spurs kept Villarreal at arm’s length for much of the match

Getty Images

It felt as though the handbrake was never truly released, even if that did at times frustrate supporters. On more than one occasion, particularly in the second half, Spurs had the chance to counter but opted to turn back and slow things down, decisions that were met with groans inside the stadium.

When they did break, as Pedro Porro did after pouncing on a loose pass, there was little interest from those in white shirts to join him up the pitch.

The one-goal margin meant Spurs could never truly relax, and Nicolas Pepe’s free-kick from just outside the area provided some unwanted late tension.

Villarreal, though, did not have a shot on target in the match. They had an xG of only 0.53 across the 90 minutes and Spurs largely kept them at arm’s length.

Frank’s side have now kept four clean sheets in five matches this season and have conceded only one goal.

“Clearly we want to score goals, but over so many, many games, that foundation, being able to get clean sheets is key,” Frank said after the 3-0 win over West Ham on Saturday.

“It's something we worked very hard on throughout the pre-season. The players deserve a lot of praise. All the coaches. And especially Matt Wells, that really drives that. And I have a big, big, big focus. I said that's the first aim when I walked in the building."

Frank has needed only a matter of weeks to transform Spurs defensively, having taken over a team that for much of last season was ragged at the back. Ange Postecoglou opted for an uncharacteristically cautious approach to secure Europa League glory, but Frank’s set-up feels more refined and more sustainable than that.

Spurs were a long way from their best against Villarreal and yet they now have the foundations in place to ensure they can still pick up positive results. It is not pretty and it does not necessarily get fans off their seats, but it is proving effective.

Frank will want to add more attacking intent to the formula and he has insisted that will come. The clear defensive improvements should make Spurs supporters more patient in giving him time to do so, especially while the team keep picking up wins.