Thomas Frank heralded a “large win” for his Tottenham group after they edged out Villarreal 1-0 of their opening Champions League fixture.
The impasse was damaged inside simply 4 minutes at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, when a goalkeeping blunder from Luiz Junior noticed him inexplicably flip the ball into his personal internet, after attempting to cope with a Lucas Bergvall cross.
But the early purpose didn’t spark a flurry of goalmouth motion. Certainly, there was only one shot heading in the right direction from the 2 groups mixed, taken by Pape Matar Sarr for Spurs within the thirtieth minute.
That is simply the second Champions League recreation involving a Premier League or LaLiga group to have one or fewer photographs heading in the right direction, the primary being Chelsea’s 0-0 draw with Sparta Prague in November 2003.
The defeat ensured that Villarreal stay winless in all of their 5 opening Champions League matches, drawing three and dropping twice.
UCL nights in N17 > pic.twitter.com/SThe3CPV5C
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Discussing his first Champions League recreation as a head coach, Frank stated: “I believed it was an enormous win. In any competitors it’s good to get three factors and get a very good begin. I’m pleased with that.
“I’m pleased with the clear sheet. I’m pleased with the defensive facet of the sport.
“I feel we had been extraordinarily good and restricted Villarreal to little or no all through the sport. They had been a very good group I actually admire.”
Spurs mustered solely 0.58 anticipated objectives, managing simply seven makes an attempt.
Nonetheless, Frank steered Villarreal deserved credit score for a way they restricted Spurs’ assault, as he urged followers to be affected person with new signings reminiscent of Xavi Simons, who created only one likelihood throughout his 77 minutes on the pitch.
“Clearly, offensively, we struggled on the day to create one thing towards a very good group. Additionally they defended very effectively, which we knew within the 4-4-2 construction,” Frank added.
“They had been very aggressive. After we had been on the day, I feel, they wanted the very best stage when it comes to contact, handed and decision-making, and so they nailed that.
“We’re constructing the offensive construction increasingly. Xavi has simply come into the membership. It’s honest to say he and Djed [Spence] want somewhat relationship, after all, to get going.”