🔗 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 comprehensive process that involved the club holding talks with Thomas Frank before they ultimately selected Enzo Maresca.

The feeling was that Maresca’s positional game and emphasis on possession positioned him as the most suitable for Chelsea’s roster of technicians. Frank, who had performed brilliantly at Brentford, had to bide his time for his big break. Not chosen by Manchester United after they dismissed Erik ten Hag, his break came when Tottenham brought in the Danish manager after firing Ange Postecoglou last summer.

At present, Frank and Maresca confront one another, both in high-profile roles. Theirs is not yet a full-blown rivalry, but they had some close duels last season. Frank’s Brentford were unfortunate to suffer a 2-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge last December and had the more clear-cut chances when they drew 0-0 with Chelsea in April.

Those were two decent games, made more fascinating by the contrasting styles between the tacticians. Frank is considered a pragmatist, more inclined to be direct, play on the counter-attack, and wait for opportunities to execute an variety of clinical set-piece plays, whereas Maresca veers towards ideological rigidity. The Italian is a product of the Pep Guardiola philosophy; he emphasizes control of the ball.

Chelsea’s average of 59.7% so far this campaign is exceeded only by Liverpool in the Premier League. Frank adapts his tactics more. Spurs are not naturally a defensively-minded side – they are ranked seventh in the possession rankings, ahead of Manchester United and Newcastle – but it is significant that their strongest displays have come in games where they have relinquished the possession. They were superb with a defensive setup in the Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain, executed an exceptional counterpress when they won 2-0 at Manchester City, and destroyed Everton with set pieces last Sunday.

Those performances point to Spurs should sit back when they face Chelsea. Tottenham, after all, have one win from their past seven home league games. The statistics are concerning. Spurs’ record of 13 points from their past 18 home fixtures is the lowest of any team to have been in the top flight throughout that timeframe.

This is a difficult game to read. Spurs are five points off the summit and undefeated in the Champions League. Chelsea are Club World Cup winners and advanced to the last eight of the Carabao Cup this week. However, fans of both sides remain doubtful about Frank and Maresca. Spurs supporters have expressed frustration about a shortage of creativity when the pressure is on their team to attack; Chelsea’s lament about their young side’s inexperience, indiscipline, and struggles against low blocks.

The truth is that both managers are doing fine. Chelsea could slip to 12th if they lose to Spurs, but there is mitigating circumstances to their inconsistent results. Injuries to Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill have had an impact. A disrupted pre-season, caused by the club going all the way at the Club World Cup, cannot be ignored.

Still, there is scope for improvement, especially when it comes to keeping 11 players on the pitch. Liam Delap’s rash sending off during Wednesday’s Carabao Cup win against Wolves was Chelsea’s sixth such red card in nine games, including Maresca’s removal from the technical area during the win over Liverpool.

Maresca was furious with Delap, who is suspended for the fixture to Spurs. But he is also considering how to make his team more incisive against low blocks. The goals have slowed down for João Pedro, and more consistency is needed from Chelsea’s young attacking midfielders.

Disappointment grew during last weekend’s 2-1 home defeat by Sunderland. Chelsea had 68.4% possession, their maximum of the season, but their xG was 0.97. Sunderland’s change to a back five flummoxed Maresca. Régis Le Bris had studied his opponent. Numbers revealing that it is only one victory from the six league games when Chelsea’s possession has been at its maximum this season suggests that their fundamental philosophy is being exploited and turned on them.

This is not a recent issue. It was no wins 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 extremes. The threat is falling into ineffective control, to borrow Arsène Wenger’s term. José Mourinho’s remark about the team with the ball having the anxiety also is relevant.

Maresca disagrees, but it is worth recalling that Chelsea had 33.5% possession when they delivered their best performance under the Italian and thrashed PSG in the Club World Cup final. Flexibility is a advantage. Chelsea have several fast attackers and are pulsating when they have room to attack.

Will Frank allow them opportunity? Chelsea exploited Postecoglou’s gung-ho tactics on their past two visits to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Frank will undoubtedly be smarter. Is a shift to a back five likely? Chelsea have conceded from three long throws this season. Spurs could have Kevin Danso chucking balls into the box. They will note that Chelsea have improved at offensive set pieces but are allowing too many chances.

Being so straightforward does not necessarily align with Spurs’ traditions. But with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski missing, there is a considerable creative load on Mohammed Kudus. Xavi Simons, courted by Chelsea last summer, has not performed to expectations since arriving from RB Leipzig. Spurs are one-dimensional in open play. Their forwards remain unreliable.

But this is one game where the ends may validate the method. Spurs fans will not object if a pragmatic approach ends a four-game sequence of defeats against Chelsea. Victory would energize Frank’s time in charge. How he would love to win this duel with Maresca.