UEFA Super Cup Showdown
In a gripping UEFA Super Cup showdown, Tottenham Hotspur faced a bittersweet conclusion against Paris Saint-Germain, with manager Thomas Frank offering a poignant metaphor, describing the match as a “successful operation… but the patient died.”
Match Highlights
The encounter began favorably for Spurs, who surged ahead with two goals from their central defenders, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, establishing a 2-0 lead. However, PSG, refusing to be subdued, found a lifeline when substitute Lee Kang-in scored with just five minutes remaining, narrowing the gap.
With the pressure mounting, another substitute for PSG, Gonçalo Ramos, managed to equalize deep into stoppage time, setting the stage for a nerve-wracking penalty shootout that would decide the match. In a dramatic turn, Tottenham’s Van de Ven and Mathys Tel both faltered in the shootout, paving the way for Nuno Mendes to clinch the victory for PSG, finalizing the score at 4-3.
Manager’s Reflections
The loss was particularly disheartening for Spurs, who were aiming to become the seventh English team to claim the Super Cup title. Frank’s tactical adjustments included deploying recent £55 million acquisition Mohammed Kudus alongside Richarlison in a newly fashioned 5-3-2 setup, which initially seemed to yield promising results. Reflecting on this strategy, he remarked,
“I knew we had to do something a little bit different against PSG so it was like a special operation.”
Despite the outcome, Frank expressed a degree of pride in the team’s performance, underscoring that a 2-2 draw going into penalties against a formidable opponent like PSG is commendable. He noted,
“We worked on a game plan that was a little bit different and we were very close to succeeding.”
Drawing on the positives, he acknowledged the overall effort, stating,
“What a mentality throughout the game. So a lot of things to be happy with.”
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Tottenham is set to embark on their Premier League journey this Saturday with a match against newly-promoted Burnley, while PSG will kick off their Ligue 1 campaign against Nantes the following day, continuing a celebratory run as they secure their fifth trophy of 2025.
