It turns out the DNA of serial winners cannot be developed within three months. Tottenham should have been able to announce themselves kings of the continent here, flimsy though any grand statements after a Uefa Super Cup win might be. For long periods they overpowered a lethargic Paris Saint-Germain and it looked, until the final 10 minutes, as if Thomas Frank’s playbook had been perfectly imprinted on the lilywhite half of north London.
Spurs had pummelled PSG in the air, deserving to lead through Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero. They had rarely been under threat but the Champions League winners perked up after Lee Kang-in’s crisp drive and levelled deep in added time when Gonçalo Ramos glanced in. Such recourse to old ways meant Tottenham were compelled to suffer the torment of penalties, Van de Ven and Mathys Tel both missing and letting Nuno Mendes inflict the clincher.
The teams had emerged to a Uefa-organised banner reading “Stop killing children, stop killing civilians”, its context generalised but the timing surely no accident. The sport has a booming voice to make better use of; this was, at least, some kind of start.
Football-wise this was always going to be a balancing act for Frank, who had rejected any suggestion it was unreasonably early for so severe a test. Alongside the need to plot points of progress in Spurs’ evolution sat a requirement to befit the stage.
Before the game he showed his players a photograph of their Europa League success, reminding them the taste should be moreish. It was instructive, though, to see Tottenham lining up to practise attacking set pieces, always an emphasis for Frank, during the warm-up. Every opportunity to perfect their manager’s ways needs grasping
This time his model was a back three marshalled by Romero, confirmed as Spurs’ new captain, behind a midfield designed to snarl and choke. They began briskly, Pedro Porro wafting over before two chances arose to implement those pre-match routines. A long throw from Kevin Danso caused alarm and they packed the box again when, foreshadowing later events, Guglielmo Vicario launched a free-kick from halfway.
PSG, their buildup dominated by Luis Enrique’s decision to jettison Gianluigi Donnarumma, were contesting the Club World Cup final a month ago and returned to training last week. Were they rusty or tired, or did they even know any more? Tottenham’s energy levels looked higher, Mohammed Kudus streaking away from Nuno Mendes and a Van de Ven surge almost sending Djed Spence away.
Their sharpness almost told when Richarlison, given a glimpse after bright work by Kudus, forced Lucas Chevalier to tip over. Rodrigo Bentancur was awry after rising to meet the resulting corner. In 27-degree Friulian heat PSG, whose sole threat in the first half-hour was a snatched shot from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, were being stifled.
The European champions were making simple mistakes, Marquinhos scuffing to the omnipresent Kudus but recovering to block. When Van de Ven erred similarly and offered their first clear chance, the hitherto quiet Ousmane Dembélé shanked over.
So Spurs deserved their goal, which came when Vicario unloaded another of those long, deep free-kicks. Romero met it at the far post and, after a ricochet, Chevalier brilliantly touched João Palhinha’s strike onto the bar. Van de Ven followed up and the celebrations showed what this meant to their travelling contingent.
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The question was whether PSG, missing João Neves and beginning with Fabián Ruiz on the bench, were in any position to go through the gears. Their appetite was sapped within three minutes of the restart. Richarlison had just forced a parry from Chevalier when, awarded another free-kick midway inside the PSG half, Spurs lined up another party piece. Porro’s diagonal delivery found Romero peeling free around the back; his header, while downwards and across Chevalier, skidded through the debutant’s hands. Oh for a live feed from the Donnarumma household.
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It almost became worse for the absent Italian’s teammates when Danso headed into the side netting. Spurs had destroyed their opponents in the air.
On the floor, Pape Sarr picked Willian Pacho’s pocket and was hauled over before further punishment could be meted. When PSG’s support acclaimed a route back into the contest, an offside flag ruled out Bradley Barcola’s effort. They would not be denied for long.
