European champions, Paris Saint-Germain produced a stunning late recovery before clinching a penalty shootout victory to win the UEFA Super Cup, denying Thomas Frank a first trophy as Tottenham manager.
In a night of high drama in Udine, Italy, Spurs looked to have sealed an impressive triumph, leading 2-0 after 84 minutes. However, PSG’s fightback began with substitute Lee Kang-in’s superb 20-yard strike, before Gonçalo Ramos headed in a 94th-minute equaliser.
The late goal took the match straight to penalties, where PSG initially stumbled as Vitinha fired wide. Spurs’ Micky van de Ven, scorer of the opening goal saw his penalty saved by Lucas Chevalier, while Mathys Tel also missed for Tottenham.
Nuno Mendes stepped up to convert the winning spot-kick, handing PSG their first Super Cup triumph in club history with a 4-3 shootout win.
First Competitive Test for Frank – UEFA Super Cup
The final match was Thomas Frank’s first competitive fixture since replacing Ange Postecoglou, who was sacked 16 days after guiding Spurs to their Europa League final victory over Manchester United in May.
Frank was given a harsh introduction to life at Tottenham. In his own words:
“I knew we had to do something a little bit different against PSG, so it was like a special operation.”
“It was, in medical terms, the operation succeeded, but the patient died. So not that good in the end.”
Frank had reshaped Spurs’ approach, using a back five out of possession to frustrate a PSG who did not record a shot on target for 65 minutes.
The strategy seemed to work perfectly for much of the game.
UEFA Super Cup: Tottenham Strike From Set-Pieces
Both Tottenham goals came from set-pieces, a clear reflection of Frank’s preseason emphasis on detail.
The opener arrived just before halftime when goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario launched a long ball into PSG’s box. Cristian Romero headed it back into the danger zone, Joao Palhinha struck the crossbar, and Van de Ven reacted quickest to score.
Spurs doubled their lead early in the second half. Pedro Porro’s free-kick found Romero, whose header beat Chevalier, the PSG keeper getting two hands to it but failing to keep it out.
Frank said afterward:
“Another very positive thing was the set pieces. We knew that was an area we could hurt PSG. We worked very hard on it so big credit to the players, it almost gave us the win.”
PSG Show Championship Mentality
PSG entered the match with minimal preparation, having only returned to training a week earlier after losing the FIFA Club World Cup final to Chelsea.
Still, their bench made the difference, with substitutes Fabián Ruiz, Lee Kang-in, and Ramos all key to the comeback.
Luis Enrique praised his team’s fightback spirit:
“We have faith. We think we can win every single match, even if we are losing. But if I am honest, Tottenham deserved much more.”
“Football is sometimes unfair. I have to say in this case, I am very happy for that!”
The Harsh Margins of Elite Football Striked Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham new head coach, Thomas Frank ended his first game in charge in heartbreak as Tottenham let two-goal lead slip in final minutes.
At the post-match conference, Frank admitted he was left searching for answers:
“I wish I knew [what went wrong]. Sometimes football is the smallest of margins. They kept pushing, made some subs that put us under pressure at times, but it is a shot from the edge of the box [which Lee scores with].”
“Before that we didn’t concede any big chances. Then the momentum built.”
“I think if you play 2-2 against PSG, I think you take that. That single result is good. Then, if you separate, we have a penalty shootout, we lost, so maybe we need to work on penalties.”
“Maybe that’s the thing to win a final… What a mentality throughout the game. So a lot of things to be happy with.”
What It Means for Spurs
Despite the disappointment, Tottenham’s defensive structure and pressing intensity for the first 70 minutes offered signs of progress from the leaky displays of last season.
However, questions remain over squad depth and creativity, particularly with James Maddison injured and Dejan Kulusevski absent.
Frank is still pushing for reinforcements, with Eberechi Eze and Savinho among potential targets.
“Hopefully the intensity and aggressivity in the pressure early in the defending, the foundation, and the mentality to run hard, that needs to be the foundation every single time,” Frank said.
“Sometimes you succeed very well, sometimes you need to do a little bit better.”
A Familiar Story, But a New Chapter Lies Ahead
The defeat serves as a reminder of the fine margins that have so often haunted Spurs in big moments. On the flip side, the performance may be just as important as the result for the English team, who will use it as a platform to build upon as the Premier League season begins.
PSG, meanwhile, lift their fifth trophy of 2025, and the Champions League holders maintain their dominance over English opposition this year.
