Van de Ven and Lucas Bergvall underline the new mentality Thomas Frank has introduced at Tottenham.

Just a few games into the season, it is clear that Frank has transformed the team. Spurs, once free-scoring but fragile at the back under Ange Postecoglou, are now one of the hardest sides to score against. They have recorded four clean sheets in their last five matches, and even though Frank admitted his team were not at their best against Villarreal, he was delighted that they shut out the opposition once again.

The shift in mentality was evident in the players’ comments after the match. Lucas Bergvall, named Man of the Match for the second game in a row, said after the 1-0 victory: “We talked a lot about ‘clean sheet mentality’ this year because we conceded a lot last year.”

Defender Micky van de Ven shared the same view, adding: “I think we are a difficult team to play against, for sure. Structure-wise, we are standing really well, and we all know what to do, so we’re a difficult team to beat.”

Unlike last season, Tottenham no longer look vulnerable. While Postecoglou’s side produced entertaining football when it clicked, few would have described them as difficult to face. That is the major change Frank has delivered, making Spurs a team no opponent will relish playing against.

Although the balance between defence and attack is still a work in progress, the Danish manager is confident that Tottenham’s attacking game will soon catch up with their newfound defensive solidity.