"We had to do something different against PSG, so it was like a special surgery," Frank said after the match at the Bluenergy Stadium, Udinese on 13/8. "Medically, the surgery was successful, but the patient died, so ultimately, it wasn't good. We were so close to victory, but maybe we need to practice penalties more to win in a final."
 |
Manager Thomas Frank walks past the UEFA Super Cup trophy after Tottenham's loss to PSG at the Bluenergy Stadium, Italy on 13/8. Photo: UEFA |
Manager Thomas Frank walks past the UEFA Super Cup trophy after Tottenham's loss to PSG at the Bluenergy Stadium, Italy on 13/8. Photo: UEFA
Frank came close to winning a title in his first match managing Tottenham. In this match, the Premier League representative led 2-0 until the 84th minute thanks to goals from center-backs Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero. But in the final 10 minutes, substitutes Lee Kang-in and Goncalo Ramos scored, bringing PSG level at 2-2 and forcing a penalty shootout.
Midfielder Vitinha gave Tottenham the initial lead in the shootout. However, Micky van de Ven and Mathys Tel subsequently missed their penalties, resulting in a 4-2 loss for Tottenham, who missed out on their first UEFA Super Cup title.
Frank suggested that if they only consider the 2-2 draw after 90 minutes, Tottenham can be satisfied. The Danish manager emphasized the players' spirit and effort as excellent, believing it's a crucial foundation for the season.
 |
Manager Luis Enrique celebrates the title with his players. Photo: PSG |
Manager Luis Enrique celebrates the title with his players. Photo: PSG
Meanwhile, PSG manager Luis Enrique admitted that PSG performed below par and were fortunate to win against Tottenham. "For 80 minutes, we didn't deserve this Cup," he said. "Tottenham deserved to win because they were in better form, having trained for six weeks, while we only trained for six days. Sometimes football is unfair, and we were very lucky to score two goals in the last 10 minutes."
Enrique explained that PSG weren't at their peak due to limited preparation time after participating in the FIFA Club World Cup and losing 3-0 to Chelsea in the final in the US a month ago. The Spanish manager highlighted his players' resilience and the support from the fans, viewing the comeback victory as a miracle.
"From the first minute, the players didn't have time to think before passing the ball, and many passes were inaccurate. It's very difficult to play properly when you haven't trained enough," Enrique stated.
This weekend, Tottenham will host a newcomer in the opening round of the Premier League, while PSG will visit Nantes in the first round of Ligue 1.
Compiled by Hong Duy
