Thomas Frank’s New Challenge as Tottenham Prepares for Champions League

Thomas Frank has expressed his gratitude to Ange Postecoglou, who fulfilled his promise to secure a trophy in his second season. Frank now faces the task of leading Tottenham through the group stage of the Champions League after their recent success in the Europa League.

Despite being a newcomer to this prestigious tournament, Frank has made a strong start in his new role, winning three of four Premier League matches, showcasing a competitive form.

Thomas Frank’s Past European Endeavors

Frank’s prior tenure in European football with Brøndby did not yield positive results, as he recorded three wins, three losses, and four draws across ten Europa League matches before he joined Brentford. The 51-year-old will be eager to surpass this record.

Villarreal, a club from La Liga, will be the first opponent challenging Tottenham in the Champions League. Historically, the Yellow Submarine has struggled against English teams, failing to secure victories in any of their 14 encounters in this elite competition (D6, L8).

Indeed, Villarreal has faced defeats in their last seven Champions League matches against English opponents, with a significant portion of those losses occurring against teams in the Premier League. Nevertheless, they have managed to hold English clubs to goalless draws twice, including encounters with Manchester United in the 2005/06 and 2008/09 seasons.

This year marks Villarreal’s return to the Champions League following a semi-final appearance in the 2021/22 season, making them the seventh club from Spain to reach this advanced stage, joining illustrious clubs like Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atlético Madrid.

Spurs’ Champions League Absence Since 2022/23

The last appearance for Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League was during the 2022/23 edition. Key players, Son Heung-min and Harry Kane, who together scored 37 goals in UCL for Spurs, have now left, leaving newer recruits like Brennan Johnson, Dominic Solanke (once fit), and Richarlison to forge a new legacy in European football.

Currently, Richarlison is the only active Spurs player with multiple goals in the Champions League, which reflects the team’s evolving dynamics.

Randal Kolo-Muani, having previously played for Eintracht Frankfurt, Paris Saint-Germain, and Juventus, will participate in the tournament with a fourth club in four seasons—a record in the competition. Should he regain his early-season form, he could significantly impact the squad’s performance.

Both new signing Xavi Simons and ex-Hammer Mo Kudus have shown promise, and their performances could be pivotal for Spurs in this opening match. However, Frank will still be without key players, including Solanke, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Yves Bissouma, and Radu Dragusin.

Tottenham’s Slow Start in UCL

Historically, Spurs have been sluggish starters in the Champions League, winning only two of their opening games across seven previous tournaments, with two draws and three losses. Notably, both victories came at home: first against Borussia Dortmund in the 2017/18 season (3-1) and then against Marseille in 2022/23 (2-0).

Currently, Tottenham has secured just one win in their last 13 matches against Spanish teams, along with five draws and seven losses, making this encounter an opportune moment for both teams to alter the narrative.

Juan Foyth, who made history as the youngest player to compete for Spurs in the Champions League back in 2019, returns for Villarreal. However, the club will miss players like Gerard Moreno due to injury.

Villarreal’s Quest to Change UCL Fortune

For Villarreal to have any hope of overcoming their recent struggles in the Champions League, they must leverage the talents of Georgian striker Georges Mikautadze. With seven goals in eight starts across major European competitions last season, he could prove vital for the Yellow Submarine.

A packed stadium is anticipated, and Thomas Frank is acutely aware of the occasion’s significance.

“Obviously, it’s a big thing. I am hugely looking forward to it,” he remarked in a pre-match press conference. “I know it will be special when we have that Champions League anthem playing. That will be the moment. In front of our fantastic fans, it is a European night and we know they will be absolutely on it. It will be so special.”