Spurs' Brave Effort Ends in Penalty Shootout Defeat

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank shows appreciation to the fans after the game

Tottenham Hotspur's UEFA Super Cup dreams ended in a penalty shootout defeat to Paris Saint-Germain after a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Stadio Friuli in Udine, Italy. Thomas Frank's side took a 2-0 lead courtesy of set-piece goals but PSG staged a dramatic comeback, scoring two goals in the final 10 minutes to force a penalty shootout.

“Sometimes you succeed very well, sometimes you need to do a little bit better...”

Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank beamed with pride despite his team's agonizing defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup final. Frank's side had the game under control, leading 2-0 courtesy of two set-piece goals, but PSG staged a dramatic comeback, scoring two goals in the final 10 minutes to force a penalty shootout.

In his competitive managerial debut with Spurs, Frank witnessed his team's promising performance unravel in the closing stages. PSG, considered one of the world's best teams, showcased their prowess by coming from behind to win the game 4-3 in a penalty shootout after the match ended 2-2 in regular time. Despite the loss, Frank's pride in his team's effort was palpable, acknowledging they were “perfect” before PSG's late surge.

For the first 80 minutes, Tottenham's performance was solid, as Thomas Frank's team effectively contained the Champions League winners. The 51-year-old manager described the night as “perfect” up until PSG's opener, highlighting his team's discipline and tactical approach during that period.

Speaking to the media after the game, he explained: “I am very, very proud of the team, the players gave everything against the best team in the world. I think for 75-80 minutes we were perfect, we gave nothing away.”

Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank opted for a back three formation against Paris Saint-Germain, deviating from the back four he used during pre-season. Explaining the tactical switch, Thomas Frank said, “We decided that the day after the Bayern game. We knew we had to do something that little bit different against PSG.” This strategic decision aimed to catch PSG off guard and potentially exploit their weaknesses.

The change in formation allowed Spurs to control the game initially, with set-piece goals proving crucial in taking a 2-0 lead. However, PSG's quality and experience ultimately paid off, as they staged a late comeback to force a penalty shootout.

Thomas Frank reflected on his team's narrow defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup final, saying, “It was a special operation, it was, in medical terms, the operation was successful, but the patient died.” He explained that his team worked on a different game plan, which nearly succeeded against the Champions League winners.

Frank's side had a strong start, controlling the game and taking a 2-0 lead with two set-piece goals. However, PSG staged a dramatic comeback, scoring two goals in the final 10 minutes to force a penalty shootout. Despite being considered underdogs, with Opta giving PSG a 68.4% chance of winning before kick-off, Tottenham pushed the game to penalties, ultimately losing 4-3.

Frank expressed pride in his team's performance, stating, “We showed we can be adaptable and pragmatic... In one game, I think we have shown we can play against any team in the world. I'm not in doubt about that, and that's a positive to take away from this.” Despite the loss, Frank's team demonstrated their ability to compete with top-tier teams, setting a promising tone for the rest of the season.

Heroic Effort Falls Short

The penalty shootout defeat was a cruel blow for Tottenham, but manager Thomas Frank was full of praise for his players who stepped up to take spot kicks. Despite the loss, Frank commended the bravery and composure of his players, highlighting their ability to take on the responsibility of taking penalties under pressure.

He added: “I would like to thank my players who stepped up and were brave and took responsibility.”

Proud.

There's plenty more to come 🤍 pic.twitter.com/bmlpIHmqeV

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 13, 2025

Tottenham now will need to reset ahead of the Premier League opener this weekend. They face newly-promoted Burnley on Sunday, and Frank hopes the standard his players set for those first 80 minutes will continue as he moulds his side into his image.

Speaking about the standard of his side, and whether this is the new norm, he quipped: “Hopefully, the intensity and aggressiveness in the press, when we're defending, the mentality to run hard, that needs to be the foundation every single time.”

“Sometimes you succeed very well, sometimes you need to do a little bit better.

“One positive was the set pieces, we knew it was an area we could hurt PSG and we worked hard on it. It is a credit to the players and it almost gave us the win.”