Tottenham Hotspur’s Premier League ascent in 2025/26 has been anything but an accident, and The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at it.
As Thomas Frank took charge, the transition from Ange Postecoglou’s swashbuckling chaos to pragmatic brilliance has engineered a genuine title dark horse in the new-look Tottenham Hotspur.
Spurs, occupying third spot in the Premier League table, have combined defensive resilience and attacking refinement, making their case as one of England’s best sides this season, all under the radar and against expectation.
New Manager, New Mindset at Tottenham
Thomas Frank’s arrival signalled an immediate philosophical pivot. Where Ange Postecoglou demanded possession and constant risk with a high-line, Frank’s approach is more measured, yet no less ambitious.
Spurs now press with precision, utilising triggers and collective intensity that have made them the most effective pressing unit in the division, with a league-best PPDA of 8.72, meaning opponents can complete fewer passes before they snap into action. This manifests as a mid-block system: inviting teams to play, but shutting them down ruthlessly whenever the ball enters dangerous zones.
This tactical recalibration has paid immediate dividends. Tottenham have conceded only five goals in their opening seven matches, giving them the joint-second best defensive record in the league. Last season, under Postecoglou, the side haemorrhaged goals, 65 conceded, fourth-most in the league, a statistic now banished to memory.
Defensive Reinvention
Much of Tottenham’s improvement can be traced to system and structure. Thomas Frank’s 4-3-3 and 3-5-2 formations depend on spatial discipline. Players operate compactly, denying space and pushing opposition attacks wide, where wing-backs and holding midfielders spring traps. Statistically, Spurs are recovering more balls, averaging over 86 per game in their defensive third, and have registered far fewer individual errors leading to goals than last term.
Cristian Romero, Pedro Porro, Destiny Udogie, and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario have flourished, building chemistry and confidence. The defensive unit’s improvement is quantifiable: Tottenham were leaking 1.7 goals per game last season under Postecoglou, but are now holding opponents to just 0.71 per game under Frank. This seismic shift reflects strategic maturity and increased accountability.
Underappreciated Attacking Growth
Despite scepticism that Thomas Frank’s system might neuter Tottenham’s attack, numbers tell a different story. While Spurs generate slightly fewer overall chances, they are more clinical, boasting a shot conversion rate superior to last year’s figures. Their xG (expected goals) per game hovers at 1.6, while their shots-on-target ratio has climbed to 3.71 per match, a clear sign of efficient chance creation.
Horizontal movement and overloads in wide areas characterise their attacking philosophy. Wingers and full-backs swap aggressively, stretching opponents and crafting entries into the box. The Lilywhites now average 19.8 penalty area entries per game, a tangible jump from last season, when the lack of a consistent reference point up front plagued their productivity.
Quality and Depth in the Squad
What genuinely sets Tottenham apart this campaign is the collective step-up from their best players and the resilience shown in the face of adversity. With Dejan Kulusevski sidelined since May and James Maddison out with an ACL injury, Spurs have relied on squad depth and tactical adaptability.
Kulusevski is expected to return in November or December, and his comeback will infuse directness and creativity into the wide channels. Maddison’s absence until the summer of 2026 is a blow, but the likes of Wilson Odobert and Mohammed Kudus have risen to the occasion, ensuring midfield innovation and attacking link-up don’t stagnate.
Crucially, Spurs’ set-piece threat has increased under Thomas Frank. Analysis of their corners and attacking free-kicks reveals a sophisticated approach, using decoy runners and congestion tactics to disrupt marking schemes, leading to more quality chances from dead-ball situations.
Statistical Evidence of Tottenham’s Rise
Here is a breakdown of Tottenham’s improvement from last season:
| 2024/25 (Postecoglou) | 2025/26 (Frank) | |
|---|---|---|
| League Position | 17 | 3 |
| Points per Game | 1.0 | 2.0 |
| Goals Conceded | 65 (1.7/game) | 5 (0.71/game) |
| PPDA (Pressing Intensity) | 12.1 | 8.72 |
| Shot Conversion Rate | 11.3% | 15.2% |
| Penalty Area Entries/Game | 14.3 | 19.8 |
| xG per Game | 1.4 | 1.6 |
Title Race and Top-Three Credentials
Tottenham’s blend of defensive solidity and clinical attacking makes them legitimate contenders for both top-three and title glory. Their tactical flexibility allows them to adapt match-by-match, and their physical data supports the eye test: more sprints, better recovery rates, and fewer defensive lapses. Frank’s side currently outperforms several rivals on shots-on-target, points per game, and defensive records, metrics that correlate strongly with sustained success in the Premier League.
Spurs’ next fixtures against Aston Villa, AS Monaco, Everton, and Newcastle United are set to test their credentials, but the underlying numbers, squad depth, and imminent return of Kulusevski suggest this group is only getting stronger as the season advances.
Conclusion
Underrated yet undeniably formidable, Tottenham Hotspur have evolved from last season’s defensive shambles into a tough, versatile, and quietly ruthless outfit. Thomas Frank’s data-driven press and organisational discipline underpin a side capable of mixing it with the best.
With elite talents returning and a tactical system that gets the most out of every player, Spurs have moved well beyond mere respectability. They are, statistically and stylistically, a force to be reckoned with in this year’s title race.
