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At the time Chelsea were looking for a successor for Mauricio Pochettino in May 2024, several managers were evaluated. It was an comprehensive process that saw the club engaging with Thomas Frank before they eventually chose Enzo Maresca.

The feeling was that Maresca’s structured approach and priority on possession positioned him as the best fit for Chelsea’s squad of technicians. Frank, who had achieved great success at Brentford, had to remain patient for his next opportunity. Not chosen by Manchester United after they dismissed Erik ten Hag, his opportunity arrived when Tottenham brought in the Danish manager after firing Ange Postecoglou last summer.

Currently, Frank and Maresca meet, both holding major roles. Their relationship is not yet a established rivalry, but they had some tight matches last season. Frank’s Brentford were unfortunate to suffer a 2-1 loss at Stamford Bridge last December and created the superior chances when they tied 0-0 with Chelsea in April.

Those were two engaging games, made more fascinating by the tactical differences between the managers. Frank is more of a pragmatist, more inclined to be direct, play on the break, and wait for opportunities to execute an variety of clinical set-piece strategies, whereas Maresca veers towards dogmatism. The Italian comes from the Pep Guardiola philosophy; he values dominance of the ball.

Chelsea’s possession average of 59.7% so far this campaign is topped only by Liverpool in the Premier League. Frank adapts his tactics more. Spurs are not naturally a defensively-minded side – they are seventh in the possession standings, ahead of Manchester United and Newcastle – but it is significant that their most impressive showings have come in games where they have surrendered the control. They were outstanding with a defensive setup in the Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain, executed an exceptional counterpress when they won 2-0 at Manchester City, and dominated Everton with set pieces last Sunday.

Those performances suggest Spurs ought to sit back when they host Chelsea. Tottenham, after all, have only one victory from their past seven home league games. The statistics are concerning. Spurs’ record of 13 points from their past 18 home fixtures is the worst of any team to have been in the top flight during that period.

This is a hard game to read. Spurs are five points off first place and undefeated in the Champions League. Chelsea are Club World Cup winners and advanced to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup this week. Nevertheless, fans of both sides remain doubtful about Frank and Maresca. Spurs supporters have grumbled about a absence of creativity when the pressure is on their team to attack; Chelsea’s moan about their young side’s inexperience, indiscipline, and struggles against defensive setups.

The situation is that both managers are performing adequately. Chelsea could slip to 12th if they lose to Spurs, but there is background to their indifferent results. Injuries to Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill have had an impact. A interrupted pre-season, caused by the club reaching the final at the Club World Cup, cannot be overlooked.

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

Maresca was angry with Delap, who is suspended for the visit to Spurs. But he is also thinking about how to make his team more incisive against low blocks. The goals have dried up for João Pedro, and more reliability is necessary from Chelsea’s young attacking midfielders.

Disappointment built during last weekend’s 2-1 home loss by Sunderland. Chelsea had 68.4% possession, their maximum of the campaign, but their expected goals was 0.97. Sunderland’s change to a five-man defense baffled Maresca. Régis Le Bris had prepared well. Statistics indicating that it is only one victory from the six league games when Chelsea’s possession has been at its highest this season implies that their key approach is being used against them and turned on them.

This is not a recent issue. It was zero victories from the four league games in which Chelsea had their highest possession stats last season, underscoring a weakness when Maresca’s pursuit for control is taken to the limit. The threat is falling into sterile domination, to borrow Arsène Wenger’s term. José Mourinho’s remark about the team with the ball having the worry also applies here.

Maresca differs in opinion, but it is worth remembering that Chelsea had 33.5% possession when they put in their most impressive performance under the Italian and routed PSG in the Club World Cup final. Flexibility is a advantage. Chelsea have several fast attackers and are pulsating when they have space to attack.

Will Frank give them opportunity? Chelsea took advantage of Postecoglou’s attacking tactics on their last two trips to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Frank will certainly be more cautious. Is a switch to a five-man defense on the cards? Chelsea have allowed goals from three long throws this season. Spurs could have Kevin Danso chucking balls into the box. They will take into account that Chelsea have improved at offensive set pieces but are conceding too many chances.

Being so straightforward does not necessarily fit with Spurs’ history. But with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski missing, there is a considerable creative responsibility on Mohammed Kudus. Xavi Simons, pursued by Chelsea last summer, has not done enough since arriving from RB Leipzig. Spurs are predictable in from open situations. Their forwards remain erratic.

But this is one game where the outcome may excuse the approach. Spurs fans will not object if a pragmatic approach ends a four-game losing run against Chelsea. Victory would boost Frank’s time in charge. How he would cherish to win this duel with Maresca.