Tottenham Hotspur were left to rue their misfortune after narrowly missing out on UEFA Super Cup glory against the formidable Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday evening. It’s a tough pill to swallow, and that says something.
The mood among Spurs supporters ahead of the clash was one of apprehension — a sentiment this journalist shared. After a disheartening 4-0 thrashing by Bayern Munich in their final pre-season friendly, coupled with a few gaps in their squad still needing attention, there was reasonable trepidation. PSG’s fantastic Champions League triumph and a near-miss at the Club World Cup only added to the anxiety.
However, what unfolded was nothing short of a tactical tour de force by Tottenham’s manager, Thomas Frank. Despite PSG seeing more of the ball, it was Tottenham who were the true orchestrators of the night, holding the upper hand until the closing moments of the match.
With Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero netting to give Spurs a 2-0 advantage, and coming close to extending their lead were it not for Lucas Chevalier’s stellar saves and the intervention of the woodwork, Tottenham looked set for a famous victory. PSG were largely ineffectual until their late surge, spurred on by substitutions, a factor that also influenced Frank’s decisions for Spurs. As a result, Lee Kang-in and Gonçalo Ramos managed to claw PSG back into the game, bringing the score to level terms and forcing a penalty shootout. Ultimately, the French side came out on top with a 4-3 victory in the shootout.
With creative forces James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski absent, the pre-match discourse revolved around who could fill the pivotal No.10 position. Up stepped Pape Matar Sarr. Although it’s not his customary role, Sarr adapted brilliantly, performing with an ease and assurance that suggests he could be a valuable solution for Frank moving forward.
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