Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank expressed his satisfaction after a narrow 1-0 victory over Villarreal in their Champions League return, highlighting the team's resilience and defensive solidity. Spurs marked their return to Europe's elite competition after a 923-day absence with a hard-fought win, thanks to an early own goal by Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Junior.
Frank acknowledged that while his team didn't reach their peak offensively, he was extremely pleased with their defensive performance. He emphasized the importance of a strong defensive foundation, noting that the team has secured four clean sheets in their last four games, winning all four. "Doing the tough job, that gives you a top opportunity to win games and we have proven that so far,” Frank stated. He also added, "What I like is that our foundation is strong".
The decisive moment of the match came in the fourth minute when Luiz Junior fumbled Lucas Bergvall's cross into his own net. Despite Tottenham's continued attacks led by Simons and Kudus, they were unable to extend their lead. Villarreal, on the other hand, struggled to create clear-cut chances, with their main threat, Nicolas Pepe, often contained by the Spurs defense.
Frank admitted that Tottenham struggled to create many opportunities against a good Villarreal side and that the game was very even overall. He said, "Offensively, we didn't reach the highest level," while also acknowledging that there were periods in the second half where they "played by giving the ball to Villarreal players and running back to defend".
The introduction of Joao Palhinha in the second half was crucial in solidifying Tottenham's midfield and helping them see out the victory. Frank praised Palhinha's impact, stating that he "stabilized us more in the middle of the pitch".
Frank also spoke about the developing partnerships within the team, highlighting the promising connection between Pedro Porro and Mohamed Kudus on the right side. However, he noted that the left-side partnership between Xavi Simons and Djed Spence is still a work in progress. "On the left side, Xavi and Djed, good against West Ham, but it's not 100% in sync," Frank observed.
Despite the victory, Frank believes there is still room for improvement, particularly in the team's offensive play. He wants to see his team be more consistent in possession and create more clear-cut chances. Nevertheless, he was happy to start their Champions League campaign with a win and a clean sheet. "In any competition it's good to get three points and get a good start. I'm happy with that," Frank concluded.
