3 days ago
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Thomas Frank is going to have to ensure his Tottenham team are at their very best and most defensively sound if they are to overcome PSG and lift the UEFA Super Cup.
Spurs go into the match against the Champions League winners and Club World Cup finalists as huge underdogs but they have their own experience of trophy-winning on the continent now following their Europa League triumph in Bilbao in May. Now they have a new head coach at the helm in Frank and the Dane has already made a strong decision this week after telling football.london that he had left Yves Bissouma due to disciplinary issues, mainly constantly being late to training.
"He has been late several times and the latest time was one too many. With everything you need to give your players a lot of love but also have demands and there also need to be consequences and this time there was a consequence for that," said the 51-year-old.
"For me there has been a consequence for this trip and then I will follow up when I come home. I will park it now because there is a relatively important game tomorrow."
Frank does have Dominic Solanke back and available for selection although the England international's lack of pre-season minutes before his ankle injury would seem to make it unlikely he would start over the fitter Richarlison. A decision must also be made over Joao Palhinha, who is lacking in match fitness and looked that way as he played 45 minutes in the defeat at Bayern Munich on Thursday.
Frank occasionally switches to a back three and he could bring that in for the first time this summer in order to name another defender in the line-up against PSG's attacking quality. That could mean a start for either Ben Davies or Kevin Danso alongside Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven.
Up top, Spurs remain without a natural number 10 after James Maddison's anterior cruciate ligament injury and surgery on Tuesday. A back three, with the width of the full-backs would mean one or two players infield as tens rather than wide men.
Here's the starting line-up that Frank could select in Udine to face Luis Enrique's side.
(3-4-1-2) Vicario; Danso, Romero, Van de Ven; Porro, Bentancur, Palhinha, Spence; Sarr; Kudus, Richarlison.
English (US) ·