The South Korean star's poignant homecoming to the club he served for a decade was overshadowed by a contest that lacked competitive edge. Extracting meaningful insights from this revamped European structure before the knockout stages arrive remains a challenging endeavor.
This fixture was largely a one-sided affair in terms of a genuine contest, making it a error to assume Tottenham have transformed into a formidable force on their home turf. They encountered a limited test from Slavia Prague and did not have to exert themselves fully to claim the three points.
Slavia Prague, coming into the match without a victory from their first six league phase games, presented minimal threat. The Czech Republic title holders gave away a bizarre own goal early on before yielding two soft penalties after the interval.
"We were pleased we built on the positive feeling from the Brentford game," the manager remarked. "This side is coming together more and more."
Despite the uneven nature, Frank is right to cling to signs of improvement after a troubled start to his time in North London. He will not mind by the approximately 15,000 empty seats at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The sparse attendance in the upper tiers perhaps reflected a lack of excitement about the opposition's quality, even if a tremendous ovation greeted Son Heung-min during his official farewell appearance before the start.
The goal came from Son who netted the historic goal at this stadium after the club's move in 2019. While his impact waned last campaign, he will always be revered as a club legend. His presence undoubtedly enhanced the atmosphere, although the current group of stars also played their part.
The opening goal arrived in the first half when Cristian Romero flicked on a Spanish full-back corner, leading to Slavia's David Zima sending a strange header past his own keeper.
The Ghanaian midfielder extended the lead to 2-0 from the spot-kick early into the second half, after a Slavia defender was ruled to have brought down Porro.
With the result secure, Spurs were able to manage the game. The Dutch playmaker then completed the evening by earning and scoring a second spot-kick later on.
Overall, it was a professional display from Spurs against limited opposition. The mood around the club has shifted, and the heat on the coach has temporarily subsided.
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