Thomas Frank praised Tottenham’s defensive effort after a narrow 1-0 win against Villarreal in their Champions League opener, highlighted by an own goal. He emphasized the need for patience with new signings and acknowledged Villarreal’s strong defensive structure, while Spurs aim to improve their attacking play.
Thomas Frank celebrated a significant victory for his Tottenham side as they narrowly defeated Villarreal 1-0 in their opening Champions League match. The game, played at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, saw an early breakthrough thanks to an unfortunate own goal.
Just four minutes into the contest, Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Junior made a critical error while attempting to handle a cross from Lucas Bergvall. The ball inadvertently ended up in the back of his own net, giving Tottenham the lead. This early goal, however, did not ignite a flurry of attacking activity as the match progressed.
The statistical highlight of the game was the scarcity of shots on target. Remarkably, only one shot on target was recorded between both teams throughout the entire match. Pape Matar Sarr, playing for Spurs, managed the lone shot on target in the 30th minute, underscoring the defensive nature of the encounter.
This game joins a very short list of Champions League matches involving Premier League or La Liga teams with such few shots on target. The only other instance was a 0-0 draw between Chelsea and Sparta Prague back in November 2003, highlighting how rare such a defensive-minded game is in the competition.
The defeat means Villarreal's winless streak in their opening Champions League games continues. They have now played five opening matches in the competition, drawing three and losing two, a record they will be eager to improve in future campaigns.
UCL nights in N17 > pic.twitter.com/SThe3CPV5C
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 16, 2025
Reflecting on his debut Champions League game as a head coach, Thomas Frank expressed his satisfaction: "I thought it was a big win. In any competition it’s good to get three points and get a good start. I’m happy with that." He further emphasized the importance of a clean sheet and the team's defensive performance.
"I’m happy with the clean sheet. I’m happy with the defensive side of the game," Frank stated, praising his team's ability to limit Villarreal's attacking threats. "I think we were extremely good and limited Villarreal to very little throughout the game. They were a good team I really admire."
Despite securing the victory, Tottenham's attacking output was modest, registering only 0.58 expected goals from just seven attempts. Frank acknowledged that Villarreal's defensive setup played a significant role in stifling Spurs' attack. He also called for patience with new signings like Xavi Simons, who, despite playing 77 minutes, only managed to create one chance.
"Obviously, offensively, we struggled on the day to create something against a good team. They also defended very well, which we knew in the 4-4-2 structure," Frank elaborated. He noted the high level of precision required to break down Villarreal's defense, adding, "They were very aggressive. When we were on the day, I think, they needed the highest level in terms of touch, passed and decision-making, and they nailed that."
Looking ahead, Frank emphasized the ongoing development of the team's attacking play. "We are building the offensive structure more and more. Xavi has just come into the club. It’s fair to say he and Djed [Spence] need a little relationship, of course, to get going."
In summary, while Tottenham secured a valuable win in their Champions League opener, the match was defined by defensive solidity and a stroke of luck. Thomas Frank will be hoping for more fluidity in attack as the competition progresses, while acknowledging the quality of the opposition and the need for patience with new additions to the squad.
The victory provides a solid foundation for Tottenham's Champions League campaign. However, improvements in the attacking third will be crucial if they are to progress deep into the tournament. The blend of defensive resilience and emerging attacking partnerships will be key to their success.
Villarreal, on the other hand, will need to find solutions to their opening game woes and convert their defensive solidity into attacking threat if they are to make an impact in the Champions League this season.