Tottenham: Thomas Frank looks to recover from Super Cup defeat in home Premier League bow | OneFootball

Spurs face a very different test on return to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Dan Kilpatrick

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After a summer that has taken him to Hong Kong, Seoul, Munich and Udine, Thomas Frank finally has the chance to enjoy some home comforts.

Spurs’ best performances this summer came against Arsenal, when they defended resolutely in a narrow friendly win, and then on Wednesday night in the UEFA Super Cup.

As Frank put it himself, Spurs were “perfect” for much of the night against Paris Saint-Germain. That they conceded twice in the closing stages and then lost on penalties should not detract from the overall performance.

Frank is superb at setting his side up to execute specific game plans designed for the toughest opposition. For example, the long-throw auditions held at the start of the pre-season were held with the PSG match, almost a month away, in mind. Kevin Danso’s ability quickly became apparent in training and he duly caused PSG real problems in Udine.

There is already a sense that Spurs will have some joy in the biggest games this season, where they will be well-prepared, tough to beat and maximise set-pieces. With a full week to prepare for Manchester City next weekend, Spurs will travel north believing they can get a result.

First, though, it is Burnley and a very different test. The focus in pre-season training has been on Spurs’ defensive shape, whether that be sitting deep or pressing high.

Against the Clarets, Spurs must prove they are capable of dominating possession and breaking down a side who will set up to frustrate them. Burnley kept 29 clean sheets and conceded only 16 goals in 46 Championship matches last season.

For all the progress that has been made without the ball, Spurs fans will be demanding something more ambitious in games like these.

"It's definitely something of course I'm aware of,” Frank said at his pre-match press conference. “That we need to be dominant against a lot of teams in the Premier League.”

A fast start feels crucial to stop any impatience creeping in. Spurs have the right man in the dugout - Frank’s Brentford side broke records last season by scoring inside the first 40 seconds in three consecutive Premier League matches.

The challenge for Spurs is producing the necessary creativity from midfield in the absence of Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison.

The trio of Joao Palhinha, Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Matar Sarr were superb on Wednesday night, but the chances they created came from turning the ball over high up the pitch, rather than the kind of incisive passing that is likely to be required against Burnley.

Frank admitted that Spurs are not “fully firing yet” in attack, but there was a more telling answer later in the press conference.

It would be easy to look at Brentford’s recent seasons and see that as a model for how Spurs could look to play. However, there is the context of the Bees’ wage bill and resources compared to most of the teams they faced.

Frank was therefore keen to cast the net wider as he presented evidence that Spurs fans can expect to be excited this season.

“I know it's a while ago, but the two years in the Championship before we got promoted, we scored the most goals both seasons and were one of the best offensive teams,” Frank said.

“I've got a clear idea of how I want to do it and of course now it's up to me and the staff to implement that into the team."