New Delhi: Tottenham Hotspur ended 17-year drought of silverware less than three months ago when they lifted the Europa League trophy in Bilbao and missed second as they lost UEFA Super Cup final on penalties against Paris Saint-Germain. With the new season approaching, the mood around north London is far from celebratory. Instead, there’s an air of uncertainty mixed with cautious optimism as Spurs prepare to open their Premier League campaign against newly-promoted Burnley.
The biggest shift comes on the touchline as Ange Postecoglou who delivered that long-awaited trophy was sacked just two weeks later. In his place stands Thomas Frank, a man whose reputation at Brentford was built on discipline, defensive organisation and squeezing every drop out of a squad. For Tottenham, it marks a clear change of direction.
New manager, new approach
Frank wasted little time stamping his authority. From the outset he made inclusivity and accountability central to his message. He invited not only his coaching staff but also catering, medical and admin employees to his first team meeting at the Enfield training base and stressed that everyone has a part to play in the club’s journey.
That openness has been paired with a hard edge. Frank left Yves Bissouma behind for a pre-season trip to Paris after repeated lateness, underlining that discipline will be non-negotiable. On the training pitch, his attention to detail has already caught players off guard. Unlike Postecoglou, who often observed sessions from the sidelines, Frank is heavily involved in the drills and tactical fine-tuning.
Transfer struggles and injury woes
Despite the buzz of a new era, Tottenham’s preparations have been bruised by injuries and failed signings. James Maddison has got ACL tear and Dejan Kulusevski’s knee problem have robbed the squad of its two most creative outlets. On the top of that captain Heung-min Son left the LAFC, leaving a glaring void in attack.
The summer transfer market hasn’t helped them much either as they thought they had got Morgan Gibbs-White in the bag alongside Mohammed Kudus only for Nottingham Forest to report them for an illegal approach. Gibbs-White stayed put, signing a new contract and Tottenham were left scrambling.
Though, Kudus did arrive and his £55m move from West Ham looks promising. His direct dribbling and unpredictability bring a fresh edge to the attack. The another addition came in on loan from Bayern Joao Palhinha who adds bite in midfield while Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel signed permanent deals after loan spells. But overall, the squad still feels light compared to their rivals this season.
Young squad with heavy expectations
Frank’s options are limited and a lot will rest on Dominic Solanke and Brennan Johnson to deliver goals. The youngsters like Archie Gray, Mathys Tel, Wilson Odobert and Lucas Bergvall will add energy and potential but relying too much on them could prove risky over a long campaign.
In pre-season, Pape Matar Sarr stood out with his box-to-box surges and aggressive pressing while Gray impressed in midfield against Newcastle and PSG. Those performances offer hope but the squad still lacks depth in key areas. Without reinforcements before the transfer deadline, Spurs risk running out of ideas when the games pile up.
Balance dreams and reality
Frank has made his ambition clear that he wants Spurs competing on multiple fronts, recalling their 2018-19 season when they reached the Champions League final and went deep in domestic cups. Daniel Levy and new CEO Vinai Venkatesham have echoed that ambition publicly even daring to talk about a future title challenge.
The reality though is tougher as Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Man United and Man City have spent big this summer while Spurs’ window has been underwhelming. Balancing Champions League nights with Premier League fixtures will test the depth and resilience of this group.
What Spurs fans can expect
The new season feels like a balancing act. On one hand, Frank will bring order, detail and a sense of unity that club deeply needs and on the other end the lack of creativity in midfield and the resilience on a thin squad will test them.
The fans will cling to the memory of Bilbao where Spurs proved they can deliver silverware, Whether Frank can build on that and push Tottenham into the top six will depend on late transfer business and how quickly his ideas take hold.
In order to leave a mark this season Spurs should not dazzle this season but they might grind out results more effectively. The worry is that without flair, patience from fans could wear thin if tight games turn into frustrating draws.