The silver lining to Spurs' first defeat of the season

For Tottenham Hotspur, a new Premier League season came with a new manager. Although Ange Postecoglou delivered much-needed European silverware, Spurs' league form throughout last season was dire. Injury crisis notwithstanding, fans grew used to watching a Spurs side that struggled to adapt, and many pundits and fans alike were vocal in their criticisms of Postecoglou's style of play, which they felt translated directly to finishing an abysmal 17th in the league.

However, Thomas Frank's first competitive games in charge of the team proved incredibly encouraging: a narrow defeat to a strong PSG side in the Super Cup, followed by two emphatic Premier League victories against Burnley and Manchester City. Their 1-0 home defeat to Bournemouth might seem an underwhelming result, but there was a silver lining to the loss that could prove an encouraging sign for the season ahead.

How Frank's post-match press conference highlighted a potential shift at Spurs

When asked about the team's underwhelming performance, Frank was clear in his response. "Football-wise, we didn't hit our top level today," the Spurs manager explained when asked about the result. "I think the lower level was too low today, so that's what we need to raise."

“No excuse, we should do better”

Thomas Frank on the loss to Bournemouth 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/msUhVGSudE

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 30, 2025

He also made it clear that he expects the team to play a "different kind of football" against different teams, which tapped into one of Spurs' biggest issues of Ange Postecoglou's tenure. Seeing Frank explain the performance in purely analytical terms, without directly criticising any specific element of the game, was a surprisingly encouraging sign. It suggests that his tactics will be inherently adaptable, which is something that could make all the difference for Tottenham's season.

Frank's style of football is a carefully-considered one, and it's something that made his Brentford side notoriously difficult to play against. His reaction to Spurs' first league defeat implied that he would apply a similar approach, which is something that could transform the team from a frustratingly inconsistent side with potential to a tactical powerhouse of a squad. Whether Thomas Frank will be able to deliver upon the renewed taste for silverware that Spurs have developed remains to be seen, but his latest comments suggest that he could potentially bring the team to the next level.