RevSportz Comment
Paris Saint‑Germain (PSG) lifted their first UEFA Super Cup at Udine’s Stadio Friuli after the latest of late fightbacks against an impressive Tottenham Hotspur side that had controlled big stretches of the game. PSG’s triumph was all the more noteworthy because their penalty shootout win came without Gianluigi Donnarumma, whose goalkeeping heroics helped clinch their first Champions League title in May.
Club World Cup Fatigue
The champions of Europe trailed until deep into injury time, with many of their star players looking heavy legged and off the pace. It should be noted that PSG’s 2024-25 season ended only on July 14, with the Club World Cup final, and the players barely had a month off. In contrast, Thomas Frank’s reshaped Spurs side started pre-season over a month ago.
Luis Enrique, PSG’s coach, had acknowledged the challenge before the game. “PSG will be without full preparation … the lack of preparation could be a hindrance,” he said. When Spurs scored two set-piece goals either side of half time, through Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, PSG looked bereft of both inspiration and energy. Too many passes were misplaced, and Spurs outran them by a vast distance over the 90 minutes.
Donnarumma’s time is up
There would have been no Champions League triumph without Donnarumma’s heroics in the knockout rounds against Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal. That hasn’t stopped Enrique from making his latest ruthless change. Donnarumma is an old-style shot-stopper, a great one at that, but Enrique is looking at someone who can help build from the back better and is also more comfortable dealing with crosses. Lille’s Lucas Chevalier was brought in and he showcased his ability in a solid performance, with the only blot being Romero’s header slipping through his hands. Chevalier saved from ven de Ven as PSG clinched the shootout 4-3.
Frank highlights why he was hired
Despite the Europa League success, Tottenham let Ange Postecoglou go at the end of last season, after a disastrous 17th place finish in the league. And the tactical changes were evident in a disciplined performance that could so easily have fetched another trophy. The midfield ran hard and stymied the creativity of the likes of Vitinha and Ousmane Dembele, while ven de Ven, Romero and the full-backs repeatedly snuffed out dangerous runs from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue.
“It was a special operation … in medical terms, the operation succeeded, but the patient died” said a rueful Frank afterwards. But even with Son Heung-min gone, and Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison injured, Spurs showed why they will challenge for a European place this season in the league. Frank and his team have worked extensively on the dead-ball repertoire and it was no coincidence that both goals came that way.
Enrique’s substitutions save the day
Lee Kang-in’s 85th minute long-ranger gave PSG hope, before Goncalo Ramos – rumoured to be a transfer target for AC Milan – nodded home in the fourth minute of added-on time from a precise Dembele cross. Both were substitutes introduced after a pallid display that showed none of the energy and ingenuity that marked the Champions League win. Joao Neves, suspended after his hair-pulling stunt in the Club World Cup final, was badly missed and PSG only really started to dominate once Fabian Ruiz was introduced on the hour.
Pointers for the season ahead
Everyone knew PSG would be major contenders again this season, and Enrique has shown with the Donnarumma decision that the team won’t be resting on any laurels. The acquisition of Illia Zabarnyi from Bournemouth makes an already formidable back line stronger, while the likes of Dembele, Kvaratskhelia and Doue will surely get up to speed soon. Expect another deep run in the Champions League, in addition to the obligatory Ligue 1 title.
As for Spurs, they will be dangerous Champions League floaters. If they can sign a creative forward player – Maddison will miss most of the season – before the transfer window closes, they will definitely be part of a clutch of clubs jostling for top-five positions in the English Premier League (EPL).
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