Soccer-Tottenham's Frank makes strong case for the defence

Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Tottenham Hotspur v Villarreal - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - September 16, 2025 Tottenham Hotspur's Richarlison, Lucas Bergvall, Xavi Simons and Pape Matar Sarr celebrate their first goal, an own goal scored by Villarreal's Luiz Junior REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge

LONDON (Reuters) -Tottenham Hotspur head coach Thomas Frank's predecessor famously said he was not in the business of grinding out 1-0 victories, but times have changed at the north London club.

That is exactly what Tottenham did on Tuesday as Frank's first game in the Champions League ended with a narrow defeat of wily Spanish side Villarreal.