🔗 Share this article

When Chelsea were searching for a replacement for Mauricio Pochettino in May 2024, multiple managers were in contention. It was an comprehensive process that saw the club holding talks with Thomas Frank before they ultimately opted for Enzo Maresca.

The belief was that Maresca’s positional game and focus on possession rendered him the best fit for Chelsea’s squad of skilled players. Frank, who had achieved great success at Brentford, had to bide his time for his next opportunity. Not chosen by Manchester United after they let go of Erik ten Hag, his moment arrived when Tottenham brought in the Danish manager after sacking Ange Postecoglou last summer.

Currently, Frank and Maresca confront one another, both occupying high-profile roles. Theirs is not currently a full-blown rivalry, but they experienced some close encounters last season. Frank’s Brentford were unfortunate to suffer a 2-1 loss at Stamford Bridge last December and created the superior chances when they drew 0-0 with Chelsea in April.

Those were two decent games, made more interesting by the contrasting styles between the managers. Frank is considered a pragmatist, more willing to be direct, play on the counter-attack, and wait for opportunities to unveil an array of deadly set-piece strategies, whereas Maresca leans towards ideological rigidity. The Italian comes from the Pep Guardiola school; he prizes dominance of the ball.

Chelsea’s average of 59.7% so far this campaign is exceeded only by Liverpool in the Premier League. Frank mixes it up more. Spurs are not instinctively a defensive side – they are ranked seventh in the possession standings, ahead of Manchester United and Newcastle – but it is notable that their best showings have come in games where they have ceded the initiative. They were outstanding with a five-man defense in the Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain, executed an outstanding counterpress when they won 2-0 at Manchester City, and dominated Everton with set pieces last Sunday.

Those performances point to Spurs might play on the counter when they face Chelsea. Tottenham, after all, have only one victory from their last seven home league games. The figures are awful. Spurs’ record of 13 points from their past 18 home matches is the lowest of any team to have been in the top flight throughout that timeframe.

This is a tricky game to predict. Spurs are five points off the top and undefeated in the Champions League. Chelsea are world champions and advanced to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup this week. Yet, fans of both sides remain doubtful about Frank and Maresca. Spurs supporters have expressed frustration about a absence of creativity when the onus is on their team to attack; Chelsea’s lament about their young side’s immaturity, indiscipline, and toils against defensive setups.

The reality is that both managers are doing fine. Chelsea could slip to 12th if they are defeated to Spurs, but there is context to their mixed results. Injuries to Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill have had an impact. A disrupted pre-season, due to the club going all the way at the Club World Cup, cannot be dismissed.

Still, there is scope for progress, especially when it comes to keeping 11 players on the pitch. Liam Delap’s rash red card during Wednesday’s Carabao Cup victory against Wolves was Chelsea’s sixth such red card in nine games, including Maresca’s removal from the touchline 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 effective against defensive teams. The goals have decreased for João Pedro, and more steadiness is required from Chelsea’s young attacking midfielders.

Irritation grew during last weekend’s 2-1 home loss by Sunderland. Chelsea had 68.4% possession, their peak of the campaign, but their expected goals was 0.97. Sunderland’s adjustment to a five-man defense flummoxed Maresca. Régis Le Bris had prepared well. Numbers revealing that it is one win from the six league games when Chelsea’s possession has been at its peak this season implies that their fundamental philosophy is being exploited and turned on them.

This is not a recent issue. It was zero victories from the four league games in which Chelsea had their highest possession stats last season, highlighting a weakness when Maresca’s quest for control is taken to extremes. The danger is slipping into sterile domination, to borrow Arsène Wenger’s phrase. José Mourinho’s line about the team with the ball having the anxiety also is relevant.

Maresca contests this view, but it is worth noting that Chelsea had 33.5% possession when they delivered their finest performance under the Italian and thrashed PSG in the Club World Cup final. Flexibility is a strength. Chelsea have plenty of fast attackers and are exciting when they have space to attack.

Will Frank give them opportunity? Chelsea punished Postecoglou’s gung-ho tactics on their past two trips to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Frank will certainly be more strategic. Is a shift to a back five on the cards? Chelsea have conceded from three long throws this season. Spurs could have Kevin Danso throwing balls into the box. They will note that Chelsea have improved at offensive set pieces but are conceding too many chances.

Being so direct does not necessarily fit with Spurs’ style. But with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski missing, there is a heavy creative load on Mohammed Kudus. Xavi Simons, targeted by Chelsea last summer, has not performed to expectations since joining RB Leipzig. Spurs are one-dimensional in general play. Their forwards remain unreliable.

But this is one game where the ends may validate the means. Spurs fans will not mind if a defensive approach ends a four-game losing run against Chelsea. Success would boost Frank’s time in charge. How he would cherish to win this duel with Maresca.