The South Korean star's poignant homecoming to Tottenham Hotspur he represented for a decade was overshadowed by a match that was devoid of competitive edge. Finding significant conclusions from this revamped European format prior to the latter rounds arrive remains a challenging task.
This fixture was largely a one-sided affair in terms of a genuine contest, making it a error to presume Tottenham have morphed into a unstoppable force on their own ground. They faced a moderate test from Slavia Prague and did not have to extend themselves completely to claim the result.
Slavia Prague, arriving winless from their first six group stage games, offered little threat. The Czech Republic champions gave away a peculiar own-goal early on before yielding two debatable spot-kicks after the interval.
"We were pleased we continued the positive feeling from the weekend victory," the manager stated. "The team is gelling increasingly."
In spite of the uneven nature, Frank is right to cling to signs of progress after a difficult start to his time in charge. He will not mind by the close to 15,000 empty seats at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The thin crowd in the upper tiers maybe highlighted a absence of anticipation about the visiting team's caliber, even if a huge roar welcomed Son Heung-min during his official send-off appearance before kick-off.
The goal came from Son who scored the historic goal at this stadium after the club's move in 2019. Although his impact waned last campaign, he will forever be remembered as a club legend. His return certainly enhanced the mood, although the current crop of stars also contributed.
The opening goal arrived in the 26th minute when Cristian Romero flicked on a Spanish full-back set-piece, leading to Slavia's David Zima sending a unfortunate header past his own keeper.
Mohammed Kudus extended the lead to 2-0 from the penalty spot early into the second period, after Youssoupha Sanyang was ruled to have fouled Porro.
With the outcome safe, Spurs were able to ease off. Xavi Simons then completed the evening by earning and converting a second penalty in the latter stages.
Overall, it was a efficient performance from Spurs against inferior competition. The mood around the club has improved, and the pressure on the manager has for now eased.
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