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A few managers were in the running when Chelsea were looking for a replacement for Mauricio Pochettino in May 2024. It was an extensive process and involved the club talking to Thomas Frank before they settled on Enzo Maresca.
The feeling was that Maresca’s positional game and focus on possession made him most suited to Chelsea’s squad of technicians. Frank, who had performed brilliantly at Brentford, had to wait for his next opportunity. Overlooked by Manchester United after they fired Erik ten Hag, it arrived when Tottenham hired the Dane after sacking Ange Postecoglou last summer.
Now Frank and Maresca meet with both in big jobs. Theirs is not a rivalry yet but they had some close duels last season. Frank’s Brentford were unfortunate to lose 2-1 at Stamford Bridge last December and had the better chances when they drew 0-0 with Chelsea in April.
Those were two decent games, made more interesting because of the tactical differences between the coaches. Frank is more of a pragmatist, more willing to be direct, play on the break and wait for opportunities to unveil an array of clinical set-piece routines, whereas Maresca veers towards dogmatism. The Italian comes from the Pep Guardiola school; he prizes dominance of the ball.
Chelsea’s average of 59.7% possession this season is bettered only by Liverpool in the Premier League. Frank mixes it up more. Spurs are not instinctively a defensive side – they are seventh in the possession rankings, ahead of Manchester United and Newcastle – but it is telling that their best performances have come in games where they have ceded the initiative. They were excellent with a back five in the Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain, implemented an outstanding counterpress when they won 2-0 at Manchester City and destroyed Everton with set pieces last Sunday.
Those experiences suggest Spurs should sit back when they host Chelsea. Tottenham, after all, have one win from their past seven home league games. The numbers are awful. Spurs’ record of 13 points from their past 18 home outings is the worst of any team to have been in the top flight throughout that period.
This is a hard game to read. Spurs are five points off first place and unbeaten in the Champions League. Chelsea are world champions and reached the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup this week. However, fans of both sides remain unconvinced by Frank and Maresca. Spurs supporters have grumbled about a lack of creativity when the onus is on their team to attack; Chelsea’s moan about their young side’s immaturity, indiscipline and toils against low blocks.
The reality is that both managers are doing fine. Chelsea could slip to 12th if they lose to Spurs but there is context to their indifferent results. Injuries to Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill have taken a toll. A disrupted pre-season, caused by the club going all the way at the Club World Cup, cannot be overlooked.
Yet there is room for improvement, especially when it comes to keeping 11 players on the pitch. Liam Delap’s ludicrous dismissal during Wednesday’s Carabao Cup victory against Wolves was Chelsea’s sixth red card in nine games, including Maresca’s banishment from the touchline during the win over Liverpool.
Maresca was furious with Delap, who is banned for the trip to Spurs. But he is also pondering how to make his team more incisive against low blocks. The goals have dried up for João Pedro and more consistency is required from Chelsea’s young wide players.
Frustration mounted during last weekend’s 2-1 home defeat by Sunderland. Chelsea had 68.4% possession, their highest of the campaign, but their xG was 0.97. Sunderland’s switch to a back five flummoxed Maresca. Régis Le Bris had done his homework. Statistics showing it is one win from the six league games when Chelsea’s possession has been at its highest this season suggests their core identity is being weaponised and turned on them.
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This is not a new issue. It was no wins from the four league games in which Chelsea had their most possession last season, highlighting a weakness when Maresca’s quest for control is taken to extremes. The danger is drifting into sterile domination, to borrow Arsène Wenger’s phrase. José Mourinho’s line about the team with the ball having the fear also comes to mind.
Maresca disagrees but it is worth recalling that Chelsea had 33.5% possession when they produced their best performance under the Italian and thrashed PSG in the Club World Cup final. Variety is a strength. Chelsea have plenty of fast attackers and are pulsating when they have space to attack.
Will Frank grant them freedom? Chelsea punished Postecoglou’s gung-ho tactics on their past two trips to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Frank will surely be smarter. Is a switch to a back five on the cards? Chelsea have conceded from three long throws this season. Spurs could have Kevin Danso chucking 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’ traditions. But with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski missing there is a heavy creative burden on Mohammed Kudus. Xavi Simons, targeted by Chelsea last summer, has not done enough since joining from RB Leipzig. Spurs are predictable in open play. Their forwards remain inconsistent.
But this is one game where the ends may justify the means. Spurs fans will not mind if a defensive approach ends a four-game losing run against Chelsea. Victory would ignite Frank’s reign. How he would love to win this duel with Maresca.
