Savinho sends message amid Tottenham transfer interest
Thomas Frank wasted no time in shaping Tottenham Hotspur’s tactical blueprint for their clash with Paris Saint-Germain. The plan was conceived just a day after Spurs’ humbling defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich, a moment that forced the Danish coach to reassess his approach. Known for his flexibility and pragmatic edge during his time at Brentford, Frank reverted to a familiar system — the 3-5-2 — one he trusted would provide Spurs with a stronger defensive structure while also giving them the tools to hurt PSG on the counter.
From the very next training session, Frank and his staff drilled the new system relentlessly. Kevin Danso was brought in to partner new captain Cristian Romero and the ever-reliable Micky van de Ven at the back, forming a defensive trio that would be tasked with soaking up PSG’s pressure. Further up the pitch, Mohammed Kudus worked closely with Richarlison, the Brazilian tasked with winning aerial duels while Kudus, with his strength and close control, positioned himself to pounce on second balls. Both men were instructed to hold possession under pressure, giving Spurs’ midfield and defence vital breathing space when PSG inevitably pinned them back.
By the time Wednesday night arrived in Udine, Frank’s meticulous work began to bear fruit. The game unfolded almost exactly as he had envisioned. Assistant coach Andreas Georgson had placed particular emphasis on set pieces and restarts, and it was here that Spurs began to unsettle their French opponents.
Paris Saint-Germain simply could not cope with Tottenham’s carefully rehearsed routines. Deep free-kicks whipped in by Pedro Porro and local favourite Guglielmo Vicario caused chaos, while Danso’s long, flat throws were launched into the box with the precision and casual ease of a man flicking a pea across a table.
Cristian Romero, wearing the captain’s armband, was at the heart of everything. His header from Vicario’s booming clearance dropped perfectly for Joao Palhinha, whose powerful strike forced Lucas Chevalier into an acrobatic save, tipping the ball onto the bar. The rebound fell to Van de Ven, who calmly guided it home to give Spurs the lead. Romero’s influence continued after the interval. Left completely unmarked, he rose to meet a Porro cross, and although Chevalier got a hand to it, the Argentine’s header crept inside the post to double the advantage.
Spurs were not done. Every attack carried menace. Richarlison saw a shot tipped over in the first half, Danso came close with a header after the break, Rodrigo Bentancur missed narrowly with another, and Pape Matar Sarr’s surging run was only halted by a foul on the edge of the box that could easily have resulted in a third goal. For long stretches, Tottenham not only contained PSG — they rattled them.
But then came the turning point. As legs grew heavy, Spurs’ substitutes could not maintain the same intensity or quality as those they replaced. PSG, sensing an opportunity, introduced fresh firepower. Lee Kang-in and Gonçalo Ramos both struck late on to drag the French champions back into the contest. The momentum shifted, and when the game drifted to penalties, fortune deserted Spurs. Van de Ven and Mathys Tel both missed, handing PSG the shoot-out victory.
Frank, typically candid in his assessment, reflected on the gamble afterwards:
“I knew we had to do something different against PSG,” he explained. “It was a special operation. In medical terms, the operation succeeded but the patient died. Not the outcome we wanted. But it was close, very close. The plan worked for most of the night.”
Even PSG boss Luis Enrique admitted Spurs had unsettled his side. “To be honest, I’m not sure we deserved this trophy,” he said. “The difference in preparation was huge. Tottenham had six weeks of training, we had only six days. For 80 minutes we struggled badly. Maybe luck was on our side tonight.”
For Frank, the defeat was bittersweet. The trophy would have been the perfect statement at the dawn of his Spurs reign, but the performance itself carried value. It demonstrated that his ideas were beginning to take shape. The structure, resilience, and tactical discipline he demands were evident. What he lacked, however, was depth and creativity in key areas — something no tactical plan alone can fix.
And this is where the spotlight shifts above the dugout. In the stands at Udine sat Tottenham’s technical director Johan Lange, joined by Fabio Paratici. The Italian, once Spurs’ managing director of football, has been working in a consultancy role since completing his global ban related to Juventus’ financial scandal. Though no longer formally employed, Paratici’s presence around Spurs has been constant, often spotted at matches and maintaining close relationships with agents and decision-makers.
This was, however, one of his most public appearances alongside Lange. The pair, though vastly different in style and personality, are said to complement each other, blending Lange’s measured approach with Paratici’s deep market knowledge and aggressive negotiation style. During the game, Lange was even seen chatting with the FA’s chief football officer Dan Ashworth, while Paratici remained glued to his phone at half-time — no trademark white earphones this time, but very much in “business mode.”
For Frank, the message is clear: he can set up his team to fight toe-to-toe with Europe’s elite, but he cannot build his Spurs project alone. He needs Lange and Paratici to deliver reinforcements — particularly a creative spark in midfield. The absences of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski highlighted a glaring void in Tottenham’s attack. Without a playmaker capable of unlocking defences, Frank’s tactical discipline can only carry the team so far.
Wednesday night in Udine proved two things: Tottenham under Thomas Frank can be organised, dangerous, and brave — but if Spurs truly want to go the distance in Europe, the club’s hierarchy must match his tactical ingenuity with decisive action in the transfer market.