Tottenham’s secret weapon to overcome PSG revealed, his stats vs Arsenal were far better than his teammates
Tottenham are looking to bounce back from their embarrassing defeat to Arsenal on 23 November as they take on PSG in the Champions League on 26 November.
Tottenham were battered 4-1 by Arsenal in the North London Derby, only adding to their recent woes following a promising start to the season.
Another defeat has put more pressure on Thomas Frank amid growing calls to be sacked from Tottenham as he looks to turn things around in the Champions League.
Yet, a rematch of the UEFA Super Cup against PSG is no easy task for Spurs, especially playing away at the Parc des Princes.
Palhinha to come back from Arsenal debacle
Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur came under fire from Tottenham fans against Arsenal with the pair being torn apart by their rivals’ attack.
However, it seems the Portuguese was unfairly criticised by supporters with his Uruguayan teammate struggling much more than him.
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The ex-Juventus man failed to win a single tackle or ground duel, unlike Palhinha who won six of his eight tackles and 11 of his 18 ground duels.
Moreover, the former Bayern Munich midfielder’s heat map, courtesy of Football Insider’s data partnership with Opta, highlights his drive to try and win back possession, unlike Bentancur who struggled to make an impact.
Conversely, the Portugal international made three clearances and three recoveries and was fouled twice as he bid to give his side a breather from the relentless Arsenal pressure.
Overshadowed by Bentancur’s underperformance, Palhinha should bounce back from the difficult defeat to the Gunners against PSG, and provide much needed defensive cover against the fierce attack of the hosts.
Thomas Frank’s Tottenham pragmatism a step too far
In the wake of the derby loss, former Tottenham and Man United senior scout Mick Brown exclusively told Football Insider that Frank is under new pressure at Spurs.
In particular, questions have been asked of his overly pragmatic tactics which have seen the Lilywhites struggle to create chances, sitting 18th in the Premier League for open play xG (7.13).
The stats are damming, yet the Dane is without key creators in the form of Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison as well as Xavi Simons struggling to adapt to the ferocity of the English top-flight.
Defensive solidity appears to be a priority, especially after the chaotic reign of Ange Postecoglou, although this principle is destroying the presence of an attacking threat.
The PSG clash presents an opportunity to restore faith in the Spurs fans, with a resolute performance potentially enough to get the club back on target.