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When Chelsea were looking for a successor for Mauricio Pochettino in May 2024, multiple managers were in contention. This was an comprehensive process that saw the club engaging with Thomas Frank before they finally chose Enzo Maresca.

The opinion was that Maresca’s structured approach and focus on possession rendered him the best fit for Chelsea’s squad of talented individuals. Frank, who had achieved great success at Brentford, had to bide his time for his big break. Not chosen by Manchester United after they let go of Erik ten Hag, his break came when Tottenham brought in the Danish manager after firing Ange Postecoglou last summer.

Currently, Frank and Maresca face each other, both holding prestigious roles. Their relationship is not yet a full-blown rivalry, but they shared some hard-fought matches last season. Frank’s Brentford were unlucky 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 intriguing by the divergent approaches between the coaches. Frank is considered a pragmatist, more inclined to be direct, play on the break, and wait for chances to execute an range of effective set-piece plays, whereas Maresca veers towards ideological rigidity. The Italian is a product of the Pep Guardiola school; he prizes dominance of the ball.

Chelsea’s average of 59.7% this season is topped only by Liverpool in the Premier League. Frank varies his approach 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 telling that their most impressive displays have come in games where they have ceded the initiative. They were outstanding with a defensive setup in the Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain, implemented an impressive counterpress when they won 2-0 at Manchester City, and destroyed Everton with set pieces last Sunday.

Those experiences suggest Spurs ought to adopt a defensive approach when they host Chelsea. Tottenham, it must be noted, have only one victory from their last seven home league games. The numbers are concerning. Spurs’ record of 13 points from their last 18 home matches is the lowest of any team to have been in the top flight throughout that timeframe.

This is a hard game to call. Spurs are five points off the summit and unbeaten in the Champions League. Chelsea are Club World Cup winners and advanced to the last eight of the Carabao Cup this week. However, fans of both sides remain skeptical about Frank and Maresca. Spurs supporters have grumbled about a lack of creativity when the pressure is on their team to attack; Chelsea’s complain about their young side’s inexperience, indiscipline, and difficulties against low blocks.

The truth is that both managers are doing fine. Chelsea could slip to 12th if they are defeated to Spurs, but there is background to their indifferent results. Injuries to Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill have been costly. A disrupted pre-season, caused by the club competing deep at the Club World Cup, cannot be overlooked.

However, there is room for development, especially when it comes to maintaining 11 players on the pitch. Liam Delap’s rash sending off during Wednesday’s Carabao Cup victory against Wolves was Chelsea’s sixth red card in nine games, including Maresca’s removal from the technical area during the win over Liverpool.

Maresca was displeased with Delap, who is suspended for the fixture to Spurs. But he is also pondering how to make his team more incisive against defensive teams. The goals have slowed down for João Pedro, and more reliability is necessary from Chelsea’s young attacking midfielders.

Frustration built during last weekend’s 2-1 home defeat by Sunderland. Chelsea had 68.4% possession, their peak of the campaign, but their xG was 0.97. Sunderland’s switch to a back five flummoxed Maresca. Régis Le Bris had prepared well. Statistics revealing that it is only one victory from the six league games when Chelsea’s possession has been at its peak this season indicates that their core identity is being weaponised and turned on them.

This is not a recent issue. It was zero victories from the four league games in which Chelsea had their most possession last season, emphasizing a weakness when Maresca’s pursuit for control is taken to extremes. The danger is drifting into ineffective control, to borrow Arsène Wenger’s expression. José Mourinho’s comment about the team with the ball having the worry also applies here.

Maresca differs in opinion, but it is worth recalling that Chelsea had 33.5% possession when they produced their finest performance under the Italian and routed PSG in the Club World Cup final. Variety is a positive attribute. Chelsea have a number of fast attackers and are exciting when they have space to attack.

Will Frank allow them opportunity? Chelsea took advantage of Postecoglou’s attacking tactics on their last two visits to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Frank will surely be smarter. Is a shift to a back five on the cards? Chelsea have allowed goals from three long throws this season. Spurs could have Kevin Danso launching balls into the box. They will take into account that Chelsea have gotten better at attacking set pieces but are conceding too many chances.

Being so straightforward does not necessarily match Spurs’ history. But with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski missing, there is a heavy creative responsibility on Mohammed Kudus. Xavi Simons, courted by Chelsea last summer, has not made an impact since arriving from RB Leipzig. Spurs are lacking variety in from open situations. Their forwards remain unreliable.

But this is one game where the result may excuse the approach. Spurs fans will not complain if a defensive approach halts a four-game sequence of defeats against Chelsea. Victory would ignite Frank’s time in charge. How he would love to win this duel with Maresca.