
Tottenham ended their pre-season campaign with a dismal 4-0 defeat at Bayern Munich – and it should have been a lot more.
Thomas Frank’s Spurs were dominated virtually from start to finish, conceding 26 shots overall – including 15 in the first half – just six days before they face European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the Super Cup.
The first to punish them was a familiar face in their record goalscorer Harry Kane, who showed his world-class talent by taking down Michael Olise’s ball over the top with a brilliant touch before firing into the far corner with his weaker left foot. Replays showed Kane was a yard offside but with no VAR in play the goal was given.
The England captain then had a golden chance to make it 2-0 as Josip Stanisic’s run into the box was not tracked until Joao Palhinha – who moved on loan from Bayern to Spurs last week – brought him down.
Kane stepped up but blasted high over Guglielmo Vicario’s crossbar in a let-off for Spurs, but the chances kept coming.
Leon Goretzka saw one decent effort saved by the Spurs goalkeeper before putting a good chance wide, while Kane’s effort from inside the box could not be tapped home at the far post by Kingsley Coman.
It was the same after half-time as Olise somehow fired over from a few yards out from Kane’s cross, with the former Crystal Palace winger seeing an effort well stopped by Vicario after cutting inside.
Eventually, Bayern would make their pressure tell as Djed Spence gifted possession to the German champions far too cheaply, allowing Coman to eventually curl home a smart finish into the far corner.
Kane’s last action was to burst through the Spurs defence – only for Vicario to deny him. And it was only when Bayern took off all their star names that Frank’s side had their best chance.
Richarlison was presented with a great opportunity to pull one back after he was found by Pedro Porro’s cross in the box but could only fire a header wide from a few yards out.
And Bayern’s youngsters ended up showing Spurs how to do it as 17-year-old Lennart Karl curled home from the edge of the box with a first-time finish – much to the fury of Vicario – before Jonah Kusi-Asare, 18, repeated the feat from the opposite side six minutes later.
It was a display that showed Spurs have a lot to work on at both ends of the pitch before they face PSG in Udine on Wednesday.
Frank: We will learn from this defeat
Tottenham boss Thomas Frank speaking to SpursPlay:
“We were obviously playing a very good team tonight. Bayern, in my opinion, are one of the teams that probably are favourites to win the Champions League.
“They hit a good level, we didn’t hit a good level, that’s a bad combination but we will definitely learn from this one.
“I definitely got some answers that we will look into and we will calmly reflect on it after the game now and look through it.
“Also, it seems like we lacked some energy somehow which we need to find – no team can play without that energy.”
Dawson: Spurs nowhere near the finished article
Sky Sports’ Michael Dawson speaking on SpursPlay:
“Spurs have to lick the wounds, dust themselves down and go again. Bayern were better on the night – they caused all sorts of problems.
“Spurs just weren’t good enough. Accept it and move on to the Super Cup on Wednesday.
“No making excuses, Bayern were better tonight. It’s a bigger game next Wednesday.
“Thomas Frank will realise when you’re beaten 4-0 in a pre-season friendly, it hurts. Thomas will say, ‘why didn’t we take the ball in better areas? Why didn’t we control it better when you’re away from home?’
“You go a goal down and give a penalty away within 15 minutes. Your backs are against the wall and it gives them a lift. Spurs didn’t do well enough in and out of possession.
“Alright, there’s a big game against PSG in the Super Cup, but for me the aim is still on Burnley and the Premier League game. Yes, there is a trophy up for grabs but Spurs are still working towards it and Thomas knows this isn’t the finished article. Nowhere near.”
Analysis: Frank needs a more pragmatic approach in these games
Sky Sports’ Sam Blitz:
In his first press conference as Spurs boss, Thomas Frank spoke about the importance of taking risks. “If you don’t take risks, you also take risks,” he said.
This display was far too hazardous, though. It was confirmation that Frank needs to bring through the pragmatism we saw at Brentford into this new role.
Spurs conceded 26 shots in this game – only once did they allow more in all competitions last season, a 3-2 loss to Galatasaray. And that season saw them finish 17th in the Premier League.
Frank’s side tried to press Bayern at every opportunity but the German champions just knocked it through them time after time. On the ball, Spurs insisted on playing out from the back – but were caught too many times.
It was a departure from the Frank gameplan at Brentford against the better sides. The Dane explained his philosophy against the ‘big six’ teams to Sky Sports and it involved a back three, with strong defensive principles and a pragmatic approach.
That is needed for PSG – and most big games Frank’s Spurs will face this season.
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