Pedro Porro wants Tottenham to play on the front foot in the Champions League and clinch positive results
Tottenham have made a strong start to their Premier League campaign this season, winning four of their opening eight games. They currently sit sixth in the table, level on points with Chelsea and just one point behind the league’s top four. There are plenty of positives to take from their domestic form, and Thomas Frank’s men have looked much stronger than before.
However, in the Champions League, the Lilywhites have painted a completely different picture. The North London club remain unbeaten in the competition, having secured five points from their opening three matches. Spurs began their European journey with a 1-0 home win against Villarreal, despite being on the back foot for most of the game. Since then, they have recorded two consecutive draws against weaker opposition.
First came the 2-2 stalemate against Bodø/Glimt away from home, followed by a goalless draw against AS Monaco in Monte Carlo. The Lilywhites were fortunate to come away with a point against the Ligue 1 side, thanks to Guglielmo Vicario’s heroics. The Italian goalkeeper stood firm between the posts and showed exactly why he deserves his place at the North London club.
Pedro Porro issued a warning to Tottenham teammates after poor UCL display
The performance against AS Monaco was far from convincing, and it took Vicario’s brilliance to save Tottenham from embarrassment at the Stade Louis II. Despite extending their unbeaten run in Europe, fans voiced growing concerns about the team’s style of play, with many criticising Thomas Frank for his overly pragmatic approach against weaker opponents.
That disappointing display even prompted Pedro Porro to address the dressing room and question his teammates’ mentality. Speaking to Caldena SER (via Goal), Porro said,
“We’re not in a bad situation, but let’s hope the second win comes. The other day in the draw against Monaco, I said it in the dressing room: we don’t have the right mentality, and in this competition, they run you over and you don’t even realise it.”
Porro made it clear that his teammates were not approaching the Champions League games with the right mindset, warning that it could come back to haunt them if they failed to correct it quickly. The Spaniard also expressed hope that Tottenham could soon secure a second win in the competition to reset and build on their unbeaten start.
He may not be part of the leadership group at N17, but Porro spoke for many fans when he voiced those concerns. The Lilywhites look hesitant to take risks and lack the freedom to express themselves under Thomas Frank. Their focus on avoiding goals rather than scoring them has clearly affected their attacking rhythm. While a defence-first approach can sometimes be useful in Europe, there are moments when free-flowing, attacking football is needed to help players express themselves and turn tight situations in their favour.
Hopefully, the performance against AS Monaco serves as a reminder to Thomas Frank that excessive pragmatism will not bring long-term success or glory to the club.
