By Martin Graham
Tottenham have shifted their approach this season, prioritizing solidity at the back rather than purely outscoring opponents. Their 1-0 victory over Villarreal in the Champions League marked a fourth clean sheet in five matches under Thomas Frank.
At the same stage last season, with Ange Postecoglou in charge, they had managed only one clean sheet. Midfielder Lucas Bergvall told Amazon Prime that the squad had spoken extensively about building a “clean sheet mentality” after conceding frequently last year. He highlighted that Villarreal failed to register a shot on target.
Defender Micky van de Ven echoed that sentiment, saying the side has become difficult to face because everyone understands their defensive roles. He praised the structure and organization that have been introduced.
Pragmatic style brings results
The meeting with Villarreal offered a stark contrast to the high-tempo attacking play that defined the Postecoglou era. After taking the lead from a fourth-minute error by goalkeeper Luiz Junior, Spurs adopted a restrained approach and concentrated on protecting their advantage.
Van de Ven was central to repelling Villarreal’s attacks, and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario went the entire match without making a save despite the visitors having 10 attempts. Tottenham produced only one shot on target themselves, leaving little to excite the home support.
Frank admitted the team defended well but did not reach their best level going forward. He joked that there were moments when they gave possession away on purpose just to chase back, describing it as “a very even game that we just edged.”
Strong defence but muted attack
Spurs have allowed only one goal all season, coming in a 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth. That is a significant improvement on their start to the previous campaign, when they conceded five times in their first five fixtures.
They have already kept three Premier League clean sheets, just two shy of last season’s overall total.
Yet their new solidity has come with a dip in attacking output. The Villarreal match was their second in three games with only one effort on target. Frank admitted their offensive play must progress, noting that while their defensive platform is strong, they still need to develop their forward game, especially against top opposition.
