Stephen Warnock slams Tottenham Hotspur's recklessness in 5-3 PSG defeat,
Stephen Warnock slams Tottenham Hotspur's recklessness in 5-3 PSG defeat.,
Stephen Warnock slams Tottenham Hotspur’s recklessness in 5-3 PSG defeat
Despite twice taking the lead at the Parc des Princes through Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani, Spurs crumbled defensively in the second half, conceding nine goals across just four days following Sunday’s 4-1 derby humiliation at Arsenal.
Former England defender Stephen Warnock questioned Tottenham’s tactical intelligence after they gifted Paris Saint-Germain the lead through careless possession play in Wednesday’s thrilling 5-3 Champions League defeat. Speaking to BBC Sport, Warnock stated (h/t Tottenham News):
“What are you doing?! You are 2-2 in a game, why are you trying to play out from the back. Why are you playing to their strengths?”
The decisive moment came just before the hour mark when PSG took the lead for the first time. Guglielmo Vicario initiated a build-up sequence by playing to Cristian Romero, who passed infield to Pape Matar Sarr. Lucas Hernandez immediately pressed the midfielder, dispossessing him just outside Tottenham’s penalty area before the ball fell to Fabian Ruiz to curl home PSG’s third goal.
Stephen Warnock slams Tottenham Hotspur's recklessness in 5-3 PSG defeat.
Ruiz completed the turnaround with a smart finish, but only after Sarr had been dispossessed just outside his own penalty area.
The goal epitomized Tottenham’s persistent defensive fragility under pressure. Thomas Frank’s insistence on playing through PSG’s aggressive press invited trouble, particularly with Sarr operating in congested areas where mistakes prove costly.
Warnock’s frustration on BBC Sport reflected a broader concern about Tottenham’s game management. At 2-2 in a high-stakes Champions League fixture, risk management should dictate clearing lines rather than attempting intricate build-up patterns against European champions renowned for their pressing intensity.
Encouraging Attack, Disastrous Defence
Frank praised elements of his team’s display despite the defeat, highlighting their attacking ambition compared to the passive approach against Arsenal. Richarlison’s opener and Kolo Muani’s double against his parent club demonstrated Tottenham’s improved offensive threat. Frank said:
“I am very pleased with the performance. This was much more the identity of the team, the bravery and aggressiveness of the team. There were lots of positives, the two strikers scoring three goals between them, the whole team performed really well”
“The performance was to get something out of the game, but then you need to have the margins with you, but we can’t concede some of the goals we did”
Yet Frank’s acknowledgment that “we can’t concede some of the goals we did” underscores the persistent defensive issues plaguing his tenure. Vitinha’s hat-trick punished Tottenham’s structural weaknesses, with the Portuguese midfielder afforded excessive space for both his long-range strikes and his penalty conversion after Romero’s handball.
Nine goals conceded in four days represent a defensive crisis regardless of opposition quality. While PSG and Arsenal possess elite attacking talent, the manner of several goals, particularly Ruiz’s avoidable strike and Willian Pacho’s close-range finish from a corner, suggests systemic problems rather than individual errors.
Tottenham failed to make the most of their first corner, and despite being without a shot by the half-hour mark, the intent of Frank’s team was clear to see.
Frank’s formation changes reflected his search for solutions. Deploying a 4-4-2 diamond for the first time this season, he recalled youngsters Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, and Pape Matar Sarr. Gray impressed in central midfield, contributing to both opening goals, but Tottenham’s midfield continued leaking possession in dangerous areas.
Saturday’s home fixture against Fulham now becomes critical for Frank’s tenure. Another defensive collapse could trigger serious questions about whether the former Brentford manager possesses the tactical sophistication required at this level, regardless of improved attacking intent.