Tottenham and the “Spursy shadow” after the Super Cup defeat

In Udine, Italy, Tottenham Hotspur entered the 2025 UEFA Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) with the spirit of a team that had just escaped the “curse” of 17 years without a trophy. The UEFA Europa League title in May under Ange Postecoglou brought confidence that “The Rooster” could shake off the Spursy label — a derisive term referring to the habit of collapsing when victory was close.

However, after just 90 dramatic minutes and a brutal penalty shootout, new coach Thomas Frank experienced a painful “first lesson”: his team lost the title when leading 2–0 just 5 minutes before the end of the match.

Match progress: From heaven to the abyss

At the Dacia Arena, Tottenham started impressively in a 5–3–2 formation with the strikers Mohammed Kudus and Richarlison. Center-backs Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero — who had just been given the captain’s armband — scored to give Spurs a 2–0 lead until the 85th minute.

It seemed like victory was in hand, but the “Spursy” scenario repeated itself: Lee Kang-In shortened the score in the 86th minute, then Gonçalo Ramos equalized 2–2 in the 4th minute of injury time.

Going into the penalty shootout, Tottenham led 2–0 after PSG’s Vitinha missed the first kick. However, Van de Ven and Mathys Tel failed to score, giving Nuno Mendes the chance to seal a 4–3 victory for PSG.

Main match statistics

ParameterTottenhamPSGBall control48%52%Number of shots1214Shot on target67Goal22Penalty shootout34Lead time85 minutes0 minutes

Thomas Frank’s New System

Press enter or click to view image in full size

Frank surprised everyone by changing tactics from Postecoglou’s time , switching to 5–3–2 to block PSG’s attacking power. This arrangement helped Tottenham maintain their team’s distance, press well and defend tightly throughout the first 70 minutes.

He likened the strategy to “a successful surgery but the patient died” — meaning that the plan was almost perfect but the end result still failed.

Spurs’ bright spots

Cristian Romero : The new captain scores goals and commands a solid defense.

Mohammed Kudus : The £55m new signing from West Ham was dynamic both with and without the ball.

João Palhinha : The loan signing from Bayern Munich brings firepower in midfield.

Set piece tactics : Thanks to expert Andreas Georgson, Spurs scored 2 goals from corner kicks.

Weakness exposed

Press enter or click to view image in full size

Despite playing well most of the time, Tottenham exposed some problems:

Physical decline : When down 1–2, the team lost control of the game.

Lack of creativity : James Maddison is seriously injured, Dejan Kulusevski is absent, making the creation poor.

Fragile mentality : As PSG increased the pressure, Spurs quickly lost confidence.

Thomas Frank’s post-match statement

Frank admits the brutality of football:

“If we had drawn 2–2 with PSG, I think everyone would have been satisfied. But we lost on penalties. Maybe Tottenham need to work more on this area if they want to win finals.”

He emphasized the positive points:

Team spirit

New pressing and defensive platform

The power of set pieces

PSG and the spirit of a champion

Coach Luis Enrique admitted Tottenham deserved more but was happy with their fifth win in 2025:

“We always believe we can win, even when we are behind. But Tottenham played very well today. Football is sometimes unfair, and this time I am happy about that.”

Lessons learned for Tottenham

Press enter or click to view image in full size

This defeat gave Frank important clues:

The squad needs to add creative elements — targets such as Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) or Savinho (Manchester City) are being targeted.

Maintain tactical foundation and intensity throughout 90 minutes.

Train your mentality at key moments, especially when you are ahead.

Tottenham and the journey to escape “Spursy”

Despite the defeat, this match showed that Spurs have made progress in terms of organization and tactical awareness. However, the “Spursy ghost” has not disappeared.

If Frank can maintain his spirit in the first 70 minutes, combine it with the right personnel and improve the finishing, Tottenham can completely turn this year’s Super Cup into a stepping stone for a more successful season.

A necessary failure?

For a new coach like Frank, defeat in the 2025 UEFA Super Cup may be a bitter but rewarding pill to swallow. It is a reminder that trophies only come to teams that maintain their focus, fitness and mentality until the very last second.

The season is long, and if they can take advantage of these lessons, Tottenham can continue to write the story of transforming from “Spursy” — not just with a championship, but by becoming a team that truly knows how to win.

FAQ

How did Tottenham lose to PSG in the European Super Cup?

Tottenham led 2–0 until the 85th minute but let PSG equalize 2–2, then lost 3–4 in the penalty shootout.

What was the bright spot for Tottenham in this match?

Solid defence, two goals from set pieces and an impressive performance from new signing Mohammed Kudus.

What lesson did Thomas Frank learn from failure?

Need to improve physical, mental and ability to maintain intensity for 90 minutes, along with adding a creative element.