In the third round of the Champions League group stage, Monaco will face Tottenham Hotspur.
Before the game, Times analyzed Tottenham's situation, pointing out that after Frank took over, he did rebuild the defensive system, making the team more stable and orderly.
However, the midfield lacks creativity, the offensive efficiency is actually higher than the actual performance, and the performance of new signing Xavi Simons has also been a bit confused, with the head coach asking him to attack the penalty area more.
With the team troubled by injuries, it is expected that Kevin Danso and Spence will continue to partner on the defensive line. The game against Monaco will be a crucial test of Tottenham's stability and the effectiveness of midfield adjustments.
Analysis:
With an unbeaten run in the Champions League and climbing the Premier League table, Tottenham Hotspur and manager Thomas Frank should be celebrating a promising start to the season.
Last season, Spurs managed just one win in their final 12 league matches. Even accounting for the various external factors during Ange Postecoglou's tenure, that record was difficult to justify. Now sitting sixth in the table, they trail Liverpool by just one point and are only two points behind Manchester City. On paper, this undoubtedly ranks among the most impressive turnarounds of the early season. Simultaneously, heading into the third round of the Champions League group stage, Spurs were ninth in the league, a mere two points off the summit, showcasing formidable momentum.
Yet, as Liverpool's earlier season demonstrated, strong results and standings can sometimes mask underlying issues. Tottenham face Monaco on Wednesday, and amid recent inconsistencies, the team desperately needs to regain stability and creativity. This match could prove a pivotal moment in Thomas Frank's tenure at Tottenham, potentially determining whether he can truly establish himself in his first season.
Following the Monaco clash and Sunday's away trip to Everton, Spurs face a grueling run of fixtures against Chelsea, Manchester United, and Arsenal. They also have an away League Cup tie at Newcastle United and host a crucial Champions League match against Copenhagen—a fixture that could determine their top-eight fate.
Currently, Tottenham's midfield trio—Palhinha, Bentancur, and Xavi Simons—has yet to find an ideal balance. The team's midfield passing appears sluggish, characterized by excessive lateral movement and a lack of vertical progression and penetration.
In Sunday's loss to Aston Villa, these three midfielders delivered only one pass to center forward Tel throughout the entire match. Simons, operating as the number 10, delivered more passes to left-back Spence than to any attacking player. Meanwhile, Bentancur failed to play a single pass to either winger, Odobert or Mohammed Kudus, throughout the entire match.
Signed from RB Leipzig for £52 million, Simons arrived with high expectations to become Tottenham's midfield playmaker and creative hub. Yet his performances have been somewhat disjointed thus far, yielding just one assist (from a corner against West Ham United).
Manager Frank stated he has instructed Simons to push into the penalty area more frequently, emphasizing that the 22-year-old Dutchman still requires time to adapt to the team's system and rhythm. He remarked: "Both Wirtz and Simons are exceptional players, but they've both undergone a similar process—arriving in England, joining a new club, settling into a new city. Adaptation takes time; it's part of the journey. We're judged after every game, but we must also look at things from a longer-term perspective."