Andoni Iraola faces a familiar stumbling block from his successful stint on the south coast. Thomas Frank is working wonders with **Tottenham**and will be a tactical test with his "different approaches."
‘We will have to adapt’
**Tottenham**have taken a different direction with Frank, who is much more openly a pragmatist than his predecessor. Indeed, Iraola has seen a shift in approach, and he expects some different challenges.
“It's going to be different. The approach is different. Thomas Frank teams are always well organized. I loved also how Ange Postecoglou played with them. Last season was difficult because of injuries, different circumstances, but it's going to be different now. The approach is different and they've started really well. Two games, two wins, they haven't even conceded a goal. I don’t expect so open a game.”
**Tottenham**bullied the Citizens at the Etihad Stadium last week. Their physicality and organisation are traits that have helped Frank during the four previous years he has spent in the Premier League.
“They are very physical. They can play a higher pressing game. They are also very good in a lower game. We will have to adapt. It's going to be a demanding game very similar probably to the game we played at Anfield and I hope no we are at the level of the game. The requirements will be very high.”
Spurs have shown their spirit and defensive discipline in the Super Cup against Champions League winners PSG and a 2-0 beating of **Man City**on their turf. But Iraola indicated that the hosts would have more of the possession, picking their 3-0 triumph against **Burnley**as a reference for his plans.
“They are now dictating the games much more the first day especially at home against Burnley they were dominant and then they won 3-0. The other references Man City Paris Saint-Germain could be tricky. They've done very well but are different games. It's not we are not City or PSG.”
From game to game, the Dane demands different things from his players. The Basque believes his counterpart could try to minimise certain chaos or lean into the pace and power of his forward line.
“I think it's going to be fast paced because they are quite physical. We are also physical. So we have to be ready to run like we run at Anfield and there could be spaces and transitions but also could be a different game because they are also ready no and sometimes they make a different approaches.”
‘They have players that make the difference’
Iraola cannot expect the same test from Frank because he is working with a different group. Joao Palhinha has walked through the door as a year-long loanee from Bayern Munich to help solidify the options at six, while £55 million man Mohamed Kudus is a level-raiser from West Ham.
“They've kept I think all the all the players they had past season and they added Mohamed Kudus a difference maker. Xavi Simons is very close, players that are going to make the difference for them.”
But even if he does not admit it, the Basque is likely to glean some lessons from previous meetings.
Iraola's team took the next step last season but still lost 2-1 at home and 3-2 away to the Bees in Frank's final campaign. However, he has noted an even more frustrating 2-0 defeat took place on Wednesday to Brentford, so he does not plan to read too much into his past against the Dane.
*“Against **Brentford*probably the worst game we've played was the other day and it was not Thomas Frank in charge I think. No, I think even past seasons against both games I finished quite happy how we played. But we didn't win. Away, we played we played well. But it's completely different.”
He also talked about his last trip to the white half of North London. The Cherries came out with a flying start with goals from Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson. But the turnaround in the final half hour left the score all square at full time, reminding the team of the importance of being clinical.
“We played really well that game. It was I think it was very frustrating that they do we didn't win it because we were even very close to score the 3-0 and after we finished the drawing 2-2 and we played really well but at the end you see that they always have players that can make the difference.”