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Tottenham have conceded just one goal so far this season under Thomas Frank
Last season, Tottenham prioritized outscoring opponents; however, the current focus is firmly on defensive solidity.
Tuesday’s 1-0 victory against Villarreal in their Champions League opener marked the fourth clean sheet in five games this season under Thomas Frank.
Notably, they only managed one clean sheet at the same stage last season, under the more attack-minded Ange Postecoglou.
“We talked a lot about ‘clean sheet mentality’ this year because we conceded a lot last year,” Tottenham midfielder Lucas Bergvall told Amazon Prime.
“They [Villarreal] did not have a shot on target, so we did a really good job.”
Defender Micky van de Ven added: “I think we are a difficult team to play against, for sure. Structure-wise we are standing really good and we all know what to do, so we’re a difficult team to beat.”
The pragmatic approach of Frank’s Tottenham against Villarreal contrasted sharply with the expansive football seen under Postecoglou.
They adopted a more cautious approach, even after capitalizing on a fourth-minute error by Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Junior to take the lead.
Their defense proved formidable, with Van de Ven consistently disrupting Villarreal’s attacks.
Despite the visitors registering 10 shots, Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario was not forced to make a single save.
However, this defensive solidity came at a cost, with Tottenham managing only one shot on target – leaving the home fans with limited excitement.
“We defended really well and gave little away throughout the game against a really good Villarreal side,” Frank said.
“I think offensively we didn’t hit the highest level. There was definitely a spell second half where we decided let’s give it to the Villarreal guys and then we’ll sprint back, that’s a very good fun thing.
“It was a very even game that we just edged.”
Tottenham’s solitary goal conceded this season came in their 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth.
This represents a significant improvement compared to the previous campaign, where they conceded five goals in their first five games.
They have already secured three clean sheets in the Premier League, nearing their total from the entirety of last season.
However, this newfound defensive stability may be impacting their attacking output, as the Villarreal game marked the second time in their last three matches that they have struggled to create chances.
Frank acknowledges the need for improvement in this area.
“We have a very good foundation to stand on in terms of our defensive organisation and I think it’s good and we gave little away,” he said.
“This is the Champions League against a good team. Also, I knew we took a step forward against West Ham, offensively is the area we need to get better.”
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