Thomas Frank aims for a ‘business as usual’ approach as Tottenham Hotspur return to the Champions League, facing Villarreal in their opener. Despite a poor record against Spanish teams, Spurs are confident after a strong start to the Premier League season.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has emphasized a calm and focused approach as his team prepares for their return to the Champions League, facing Villarreal in their opening match. Frank insists it will be “business as usual” for Spurs, despite the heightened prestige and visibility of Europe’s premier club competition.
Spurs enter Tuesday’s clash buoyed by a convincing 3-0 victory away at West Ham United, marking their third win in four Premier League games under Frank’s leadership. This positive momentum provides a solid foundation as they embark on their Champions League campaign, a stage they haven’t graced since the 2022-23 season.
However, history isn’t on Tottenham’s side when facing Spanish opposition. The North London club has a notably poor record, securing only one win in their last 13 encounters against teams from La Liga. This upcoming match against Villarreal will be the first competitive meeting between the two sides, offering a fresh challenge.
Historically, Tottenham’s record in opening Champions League/European Cup games is mixed. They’ve only managed to win their opening match on two of their seven attempts, with three draws and two losses rounding out their record. Encouragingly, those two victories came in their last two home openers – a 2-0 win against Marseille in 2022 and a 3-1 triumph over Borussia Dortmund in 2017.
Our @ChampionsLeague campaign begins tomorrow pic.twitter.com/0lvcMmFVYg
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 15, 2025
Speaking at Monday’s pre-match press conference, Frank outlined his strategy for navigating the Champions League. “Now it’s preparation, there’s a few more cameras, but it’s business as usual,” he stated. “When we all go out onto the pitch tomorrow, then it’ll be special.” He expressed confidence in his squad, stating, “I believe I have a fantastic squad and we would like to go as far as possible. I think the most important thing is that it’s one game at a time.”
Frank acknowledged the quality of their opponents, Villarreal. “Villarreal are a very good team. I’ve been very impressed when I’ve studied them, but we’ll do everything we can to get a good start. It’s going to be a good challenge,” he added. While harboring ambitions to win the competition, Frank stressed the importance of focusing on each game individually. “We want to try and win it. But the most important thing is to take one game at a time. That begins with Villarreal, a very good team.” He also showed respect for Villarreal’s manager, Marcelino, praising his team’s structure, organization, and possession-based approach.
Captain Cristian Romero, who recently signed a four-year deal, is set to make his 15th appearance in the Champions League, with eight of those coming for Tottenham. Romero emphasized the team’s dedication to improvement. “We always focus on our jobs and our work. We have a great manager. We have a great defensive coach. We always want to improve,” he said. He highlighted the team’s consistent performance, aside from the match against Bournemouth, and their commitment to raising their level of play regardless of the opponent. “If you take Bournemouth out, we’ve done well. We do our best no matter who we are playing against. It is always about increasing our performance and looking to improve.”
The return to the Champions League represents a significant step for Tottenham under Frank, and the manager’s emphasis on maintaining a normal routine suggests a desire to shield his players from excessive pressure. The match against Villarreal will be a crucial test of their capabilities and a statement of intent as they aim to make a mark on the competition. The fans are eagerly anticipating a successful campaign, hoping to see Spurs replicate the excitement and drama of their previous Champions League adventures.
