🔗 Share this article

At the time Chelsea were seeking for a successor for Mauricio Pochettino in May 2024, several managers were considered. This was an thorough process that involved the club holding talks with Thomas Frank before they finally chose Enzo Maresca.

The feeling was that Maresca’s structured approach and focus on possession made him the ideal candidate for Chelsea’s team of technicians. Frank, who had excelled at Brentford, had to bide his time for his big break. Not chosen by Manchester United after they parted ways with Erik ten Hag, his moment arrived when Tottenham appointed the Dane after sacking Ange Postecoglou last summer.

Currently, Frank and Maresca face each other, both holding major roles. Theirs is not yet a established rivalry, but they had some close matches last season. Frank’s Brentford were unlucky to endure a 2-1 loss at Stamford Bridge last December and created the more clear-cut chances when they drew 0-0 with Chelsea in April.

Those were two competitive games, made more interesting by the contrasting styles between the coaches. Frank is more of a adaptable coach, more willing to be straightforward, play on the break, and wait for opportunities to unveil an array of effective set-piece strategies, whereas Maresca veers towards a strict philosophy. The Italian is a product of the Pep Guardiola school; he values dominance of the ball.

Chelsea’s average of 59.7% this season is exceeded only by Liverpool in the Premier League. Frank mixes it up more. Spurs are not naturally a defensive side – they are seventh in the possession table, ahead of Manchester United and Newcastle – but it is telling that their strongest displays have come in games where they have surrendered the possession. They were outstanding with a defensive setup in the Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain, implemented an impressive counterpress when they won 2-0 at Manchester City, and overwhelmed Everton with set pieces last Sunday.

Those results suggest Spurs should adopt a defensive approach when they host Chelsea. Tottenham, after all, have only one victory from their past seven home league games. The figures are awful. Spurs’ record of 13 points from their past 18 home matches is the poorest of any team to have been in the top flight throughout that period.

This is a tricky game to predict. Spurs are five points off the top and unbeaten in the Champions League. Chelsea are Club World Cup winners and reached the last eight of the Carabao Cup this week. However, fans of both sides remain doubtful about Frank and Maresca. Spurs supporters have complained about a shortage of creativity when the onus is on their team to attack; Chelsea’s lament about their young side’s inexperience, lack of discipline, and difficulties against defensive setups.

The truth is that both managers are doing fine. Chelsea could fall to 12th if they lose to Spurs, but there is background to their indifferent results. Injuries to Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill have been costly. A disrupted pre-season, resulting from the club reaching the final at the Club World Cup, cannot be overlooked.

However, there is potential for progress, especially when it comes to maintaining 11 players on the pitch. Liam Delap’s ludicrous red card during Wednesday’s Carabao Cup victory against Wolves was Chelsea’s sixth red card in nine games, including Maresca’s banishment from the touchline during the win over Liverpool.

Maresca was displeased with Delap, who is banned for the visit to Spurs. But he is also thinking about how to make his team more penetrative against low blocks. The goals have slowed down for João Pedro, and more reliability is required from Chelsea’s young wingers.

Irritation mounted during last weekend’s 2-1 home defeat by Sunderland. Chelsea had 68.4% possession, their peak of the campaign, but their xG was 0.97. Sunderland’s adjustment to a back five flummoxed Maresca. Régis Le Bris had prepared well. Numbers revealing that it is one win from the six league games when Chelsea’s possession has been at its maximum this season indicates that their core identity is being weaponised and used to their disadvantage.

This is not a recent issue. It was zero victories from the four league games in which Chelsea had their most possession last season, underscoring a vulnerability when Maresca’s pursuit for control is taken to the limit. The risk is slipping into sterile domination, to borrow Arsène Wenger’s expression. José Mourinho’s comment about the team with the ball having the worry also applies here.

Maresca disagrees, but it is worth noting that Chelsea had 33.5% possession when they put in their finest performance under the Italian and thrashed PSG in the Club World Cup final. Adaptability is a advantage. Chelsea have a number of fast attackers and are exciting when they have room to attack.

Will Frank allow them space? Chelsea punished Postecoglou’s attacking tactics on their last two trips to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Frank will surely be more cautious. Is a shift to a five-man defense on the cards? Chelsea have allowed goals from three long throws this season. Spurs could have Kevin Danso chucking balls into the box. They will observe that Chelsea have gotten better at offensive set pieces but are conceding too many chances.

Being so direct does not necessarily fit with Spurs’ style. But with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski absent, there is a significant creative load on Mohammed Kudus. Xavi Simons, courted by Chelsea last summer, has not made an impact since arriving from RB Leipzig. Spurs are lacking variety in open play. Their forwards remain erratic.

But this is one game where the ends may validate the means. Spurs fans will not object if a defensive approach halts a four-game winless streak against Chelsea. Victory would energize Frank’s tenure. How he would cherish to win this battle with Maresca.