Tottenham Hotspur may adopt a more attacking formation against PSG, featuring five changes including Pedro Porro and young midfielders Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, to reignite their Champions League campaign.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank is under significant pressure to overhaul his starting line-up following a humbling defeat to Arsenal in the North London Derby, according to a report from GiveMeSport.
With Spurs next facing the reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes in the Champions League, the suggestions focus on transforming a heavily criticised defensive structure into a more attack-minded formation.
Despite being unbeaten in the Champions League group stage with two wins and two draws, the current “murmurings of discontent” are prompting calls for drastic action.
Against Arsenal, Frank deployed a notably defensive system, featuring three centre-backs—Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Kevin Danso—flanked by wing-backs Djed Spence and Destiny Udogie.
This was supported by a double pivot of Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur, creating a perceived “back seven” in front of Guglielmo Vicario.
The proposed five changes begin with a switch back to a four-man defence, which would see Danso drop out. Pedro Porro is suggested to return at right-back at the expense of Spence, leveraging his delivery as a major threat to PSG.
The midfield requires the most drastic overhaul: replacing the defensive-minded double pivot of Palhinha and Bentancur with dynamic teenagers Archie Gray (in the No. 6 role) and Lucas Bergvall (in the No. 8 position).
Xavi Simons, who impressed as a half-time substitute against Arsenal, is suggested to complete the midfield three.
Finally, the report recommends a shift in the forward line, moving Richarlison out to the left flank, where he operates more effectively, and installing Randal Kolo Muani through the middle against his former club. Mohammed Kudus would retain his place on the right wing.
These five changes would result in Spence, Danso, Palhinha, Bentancur, and Wilson Odobert all dropping out of the lineup, aiming to show supporters “there is an ambition from Frank to attack.”