Tottenham’s defensive stats strongly indicate that the Lilywhites have taken major strides under Thomas Frank this season. Frank’s men look compact and resolute at the back, rarely conceding clear-cut chances even against tricky opponents. The low-block approach implemented by the Danish tactician has helped the team maintain a disciplined structure, allowing little space for opposition attackers to exploit.

Spurs have already managed to register five clean sheets in all competitions under Frank this season — a clear sign of how far they have come in such a short period. Most of the credit for this achievement should go to Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, who have formed one of the strongest centre-back pairings in the Premier League. Their understanding, aggression, and balance have been key to Tottenham’s defensive improvement.

Marc Guehi set to leave Crystal Palace next summer amid Tottenham transfer links.

However, the sudden drop-off in quality when either of them is unavailable remains evident. At present, Frank has Radu Drăgușin, Ben Davies, and Kevin Danso waiting in the wings to step in for Romero or Van de Ven, but it’s clear that these players cannot be relied upon if Spurs are serious about bridging the gap with their...