Tottenham were undone by Vitinha in a 5-3 loss to PSG, but Thomas Frank still saw plenty of positives from his side in defeat.
Tottenham manager Thomas Frank hailed his side’s “soul and character” despite seeing them suffer a 5-3 Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
Frank was heavily criticised in the wake of Tottenham’s meek surrender in the North London derby, but his players demonstrated significantly more fight at the Parc Des Princes, even though their defensive stability was ultimately lacking as Spurs suffered their first Champions League loss of the season.
Richarlison gave Tottenham a 35th-minute lead, only for his effort to be cancelled out by the first of three goals for PSG midfielder Vitinha, who repeated the trick in equalising after Randal Kolo Muani restored Spurs’ advantage.
Fabian Ruiz capitalised after PSG intercepted a poor Cristian Romero pass to put them in front for the first time, the hosts’ lead doubled by Willian Pacho before a second from Kolo Muani halved the deficit with his second against his parent club.
Yet Vitinha’s third, this time from the penalty spot, was the decisive blow that sealed victory for the holders, who finished the game with 10 men after Lucas Hernandez elbowed Xavi Simons late on.
Frank finds Tottenham positives
Tottenham have conceded nine goals in their last two games, but Frank was eager to focus on the positives.
He told TNT Sports: “I am very pleased with the performance. Today was much more the identity of the team, the bravery and aggressiveness of the team.
“There were lots of positives, the two strikers scoring three goals between them, the whole team performed really well. The performance was to get something out of the game but then you need to have the margins with you but we can’t concede some of the goals we did.
“Of course it will always be concerning when we concede four and five but these were two completely different games. This was more of what I want. Today we competed. Today was a team with soul and character and you need that.”
Kolo Muani is yet to score for Tottenham in the Premier League, but he looked comfortable in front of goal against the team that has deemed him surplus to requirements for a second successive season after he spent the previous campaign on loan at Juventus.
“It can definitely be a turning point but the two goals will give him confidence going forward,” Frank said of Kolo Muani’s display. “He has struggled a bit with confidence but now he is looking better and better.”
In terms of the opposition, Frank reserved special praise for PSG’s hat-trick hero.
“Vitinha is the best midfielder in the world,” Frank said. “He will be the next Ballon d’Or winner.”
