Tottenham Hotspur coach Thomas Frank praised his team’s identity and character despite a 5-3 Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
PARIS: Tottenham Hotspur coach Thomas Frank said their 5-3 Champions League loss at Paris Saint-Germain demonstrated the “identity of the team we want to create”.
Spurs led twice before ultimately succumbing for the second time this season after holding an advantage over PSG.
Frank made five changes and altered the formation following a 4-1 Premier League defeat at Arsenal.
“Pleased with the performance,” said the Danish coach.
“It was the reaction I wanted from the players and from the team.”
“We responded well and bounced back.”
Frank emphasised the display featured “more character, personality, aggressiveness”.
The new league stage format eliminates only 12 teams, with the top eight advancing directly to the last 16.
PSG moved to second on goal difference, holding a two-point advantage over ninth-placed Manchester City.
“We’ve pretty much booked a top-24 place,” said PSG coach Luis Enrique.
“It was a very tough match today.”
The Spanish coach described it as “a complete match” despite ongoing injury absences.
Tottenham sit 16th with eight points from five games, well positioned to at least reach the play-off round.
Frank expressed frustration that his team “could have got something out of the game”.
He praised Vitinha’s spectacular first equaliser just before half-time as “a little bit of magic”.
“We played against a decent team,” Frank said of the European champions.
Luis Enrique offered a more measured assessment of Portuguese midfielder Vitinha.
“He was today, as usual, sensational,” said the PSG coach.
“He has personality.” – AFP
