Summary
Thomas Frank’s Spurs maintained their stunning transformation with a victory over Manchester City.
Tottenham’s defense appears to have improved significantly under Ange Postecoglou’s tenure.
One player played a significant role in shutting out Erling Haaland and his teammates.
Tottenham have won two straight Premier League games and kept two clean sheets as the Europa League winners continued their successful transition to life under Thomas Frank against Manchester City. The former Brentford manager has done an outstanding job since succeeding Ange Postecoglou. Spurs appear to be a completely different team overall, and their improved defensive record is maybe the most evident example.
Last season, Postecoglou’s club ended 17th with a goalkeeper in Guglielmo Vicario, who had only four clean sheets in 24 games. He is already halfway to that total after only two terms this semester. This is partly due to Frank’s setup, which has improved Spurs’ defensive security. However, like always, such a system need the right participants to function.
Fortunately for the Danish coach, he appears to have a surplus of that, especially in the middle of the park. However, one worker in the engine room has received special recognition, and Frank is praised for his early change.
Fans praised Joao Palhinha’s performance against City.
It was a different midfield from the one that had defeated Burnley in the opener, and one of the new faces in the middle was Joao Palhinha. The Portuguese international was making his first Premier League start since 2024, having last played for Fulham before joining Bayern Munich that summer.
After a rough year in Germany, the 30-year-old returned to London, this time for Tottenham, where he made a 10-minute cameo on his home debut before being assigned a considerably more significant duty at the Etihad.
Of course, the goal that doubled Spurs’ advantage, his seventh in the Premier League, was the pinnacle of his performance. However, his whole performance elicited strong reactions from fans online.
“Palhinha is a proper player,” said one, accompanying a clip of the ball-winner’s fantasy performance in which he used his strength to force compatriot Bernardo Silva off the ball. Another person commented: “The disrespect Joao Palhinha received because he played in a Bayern team that didn’t fit his play style.”
A third stated that 70% of the Earth is covered with water. The rest is covered by Richy and Palhinha,” while a fourth added, “Make Palhinha’s loan permanent immediately; I’ve seen enough. “Thanks, Bayern.”
A fifth expressed similar sentiments, writing, “Joao Palhinha has been a top signing.” Make it permanent as soon as possible,” while a sixth stated: “Palhinha is a monstrous man; he sweeps up everything. How was he able to move to Spurs so easily?”
Palhinha’s Game by Numbers
While the goal was Palhinha’s most significant contribution to the game, his whole performance in keeping City at bay was nothing short of outstanding. The former Fulham player completed 21 of his 26 passes, many of which allowed Tottenham to reset or launch a counter-attack with their quick front three of Brennan Johnson, Mohamed Kudus, and Richarlison.
While he lost possession nine times, he more than compensated by winning six of his ten ground duels and both of his aerial duels. Palhinha was scooping up any danger before the hosts could get the ball into their offensive capabilities, with two clearances, one block, and four crucial tackles.
As one fan pointed out, Palhinha’s unsuccessful move to Bayern was not due to a lack of talent. In English football, he shown his ability to play at a high level, but Vincent Kompany’s approach frequently exposed him and pushed him to focus on areas where he lacked strength.
The manner Thomas Frank built up his Tottenham team against City allowed his controlled yet destructive strengths to shine through, as they did so frequently at Fulham. Palhinha was frequently the defensive glue that made the Cottagers difficult to break down while also bridging the gap, allowing them to cause issues further up the pitch.
If Spurs had worn their home kit today, you could have thought you were seeing an old highlights package from his time at Craven Cottage. Instead, it was a reminder of what he can do when deployed well, and in games where Spurs may not have as much possession, he might be a huge asset for Thomas Frank going ahead.
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