Tottenham Ease Strain on Thomas Frank as Xavi Simons Seals Comfortable Win Against Slavia Prague
The South Korean star's poignant return to Tottenham Hotspur he served for a ten-year period was overshadowed by a match that lacked competitive edge. Extracting meaningful insights from this new European format prior to the knockout stages commence proves a difficult task.
This fixture was predominantly a non-event in terms of a genuine contest, rendering it a mistake to presume Tottenham have morphed into a formidable machine on their home turf. They faced a limited test from Slavia Prague and were not forced to exert themselves completely to claim the result.
A Night of Limited Resistance
Slavia Prague, coming into the match without a victory from their initial six league phase games, presented little danger. The Czech Republic champions conceded a peculiar own-goal early on before yielding two soft penalties after the interval.
"We were pleased we built on the momentum from the weekend victory," the manager stated. "This side is gelling more and more."
Despite the uneven scoreline, Frank is right to focus on signs of improvement after a troubled start to his time in North London. He will be unconcerned by the approximately 15,000 empty seats at the club's home ground.
Son's Emotional Return
The thin crowd in the upper tiers maybe highlighted a lack of anticipation about the visiting team's caliber, even if a huge ovation greeted Son Heung-min during his formal send-off appearance before kick-off.
The goal came from Son who scored the first goal at this stadium after the club's relocation in 2019. Although his influence diminished last season, he will always be remembered as a Tottenham icon. His return undoubtedly enhanced the atmosphere, although the current crop of stars also played their part.
Game Summary
The opening goal arrived in the first half when the Argentine defender glanced a Pedro Porro set-piece, resulting in Slavia's David Zima directing a unfortunate own goal past his own goalkeeper.
The Ghanaian midfielder extended the lead to 2-0 from the spot-kick early into the second half, after Youssoupha Sanyang was adjudged to have brought down Porro.
With the result safe, Spurs were able to manage the game. The Dutch playmaker then capped off the evening by winning and converting a another spot-kick later on.
Important Points
- Momentum: The win followed the recent success against Brentford, relieving the immediate pressure on manager Thomas Frank.
- Xavi Simons' Confidence: Finding the net again will boost the young midfielder self-belief considerably.
- Squad Blow: Micky van de Ven's needless booking rules him out for the crucial next European match against Borussia Dortmund.
Overall, it was a efficient performance from Spurs against limited opposition. The mood around the club has shifted, and the pressure on the coach has temporarily eased.
