Tottenham Coach Thomas Frank Hails Defence After 1-0 Win Over Villarreal

 

Tottenham Hotspur began their Champions League campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Villarreal, giving new head coach Thomas Frank a winning start in Europe. The decisive moment came in the fourth minute when Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Junior accidentally turned the ball into his own net. Despite the early lead, Spurs offered little going forward and spent much of the match defending deep against the organised Spanish side.

Frank, who took charge in June after Ange Postecoglou departed, placed the focus firmly on defence. Last season Tottenham conceded 65 league goals, finishing 17th, but under Frank they already look more resilient. The win marked their fourth clean sheet in five matches, a clear sign of the discipline he has brought. Speaking after the game, Frank praised his side’s structure and effort: “I’m happy with the clean sheet. We limited Villarreal to very little. Our foundation is strong.”

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Villarreal, led by Marcelino, recovered well from the early setback and often controlled possession. Despite creating chances, they failed to convert and left London without a deserved point.

While Tottenham’s defence earned plaudits, their attack struggled to impress against Villarreal’s compact back line. Summer arrivals Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus started brightly but faded as the game went on, while Brazilian striker Richarlison cut a frustrated figure up front. Late substitute Randal Kolo Muani, making his debut on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, hardly touched the ball. Spurs had scored eight goals in their first four Premier League matches, but on this occasion they lacked fluidity in the final third.

Frank dismissed concerns about the attack, insisting his team has enough quality to score consistently. “These players will score goals, I have no doubt,” he said. “The key was to defend better. We worked hard on structure, principles, and recovery runs. Doing the tough jobs gives you the chance to win games.”

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For Villarreal, the result was frustrating. Marcelino said his side deserved more after competing strongly against a difficult opponent. “I’m proud of how we played. We should have had at least a draw,” he reflected. Despite the setback, Villarreal remain confident of advancing beyond the group stage.