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When Chelsea were seeking for a successor for Mauricio Pochettino in May 2024, a number of managers were in contention. This was an extensive process that involved the club holding talks with Thomas Frank before they finally opted for Enzo Maresca.

The belief was that Maresca’s tactical system and emphasis on possession made him the best fit for Chelsea’s team of skilled players. Frank, who had excelled at Brentford, had to bide his time for his next chance. Passed over by Manchester United after they let go of Erik ten Hag, his opportunity arrived when Tottenham appointed the Danish manager after firing Ange Postecoglou last summer.

At present, Frank and Maresca meet, both in high-profile roles. Their relationship is not currently a full-fledged rivalry, but they had some hard-fought duels last season. Frank’s Brentford were unlucky to suffer a 2-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge last December and had the better chances when they drew 0-0 with Chelsea in April.

Those were two engaging games, made more fascinating by the contrasting styles between the tacticians. Frank is considered a practical manager, more likely to be straightforward, play on the counter-attack, and wait for opportunities to deploy an variety of clinical set-piece plays, whereas Maresca leans towards ideological rigidity. The Italian is a product of the Pep Guardiola school; he prizes dominance of the ball.

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

Those results point to Spurs might sit back when they host Chelsea. Tottenham, after all, have only one victory from their last seven home league games. The numbers are awful. Spurs’ record of 13 points from their last 18 home matches is the lowest of any team to have been in the top flight throughout that period.

This is a difficult game to call. Spurs are five points off first place and unbeaten in the Champions League. Chelsea are world champions and reached the last eight of the Carabao Cup this week. However, fans of both sides remain skeptical about Frank and Maresca. Spurs supporters have complained about a lack of creativity when the responsibility is on their team to attack; Chelsea’s lament about their young side’s inexperience, lack of discipline, and difficulties against low blocks.

The truth is that both managers are performing adequately. Chelsea could fall to 12th if they lose to Spurs, but there is context to their indifferent results. Injuries to Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill have taken a toll. A disrupted pre-season, resulting from the club competing deep at the Club World Cup, cannot be overlooked.

Still, there is potential for development, especially when it comes to maintaining 11 players on the pitch. Liam Delap’s unnecessary red card during Wednesday’s Carabao Cup success against Wolves was Chelsea’s sixth red card in nine games, including Maresca’s removal from the touchline during the win over Liverpool.

Maresca was displeased with Delap, who is banned for the visit to Spurs. But he is also pondering how to make his team more penetrative against low blocks. The goals have decreased for João Pedro, and more reliability is necessary from Chelsea’s young attacking midfielders.

Frustration mounted during last weekend’s 2-1 home defeat by Sunderland. Chelsea had 68.4% possession, their maximum of the campaign, but their xG was 0.97. Sunderland’s change to a back five flummoxed Maresca. Régis Le Bris had studied his opponent. Numbers revealing that it is only one victory from the six league games when Chelsea’s possession has been at its peak this season suggests that their key approach is being exploited and used to their disadvantage.

This is not a new issue. It was no wins from the four league games in which Chelsea had their highest possession stats last season, emphasizing a weakness when Maresca’s drive for control is taken to extremes. The risk is drifting into ineffective control, to borrow Arsène Wenger’s expression. José Mourinho’s comment about the team with the ball having the anxiety also comes to mind.

Maresca disagrees, but it is worth remembering that Chelsea had 33.5% possession when they delivered their finest performance under the Italian and routed PSG in the Club World Cup final. Adaptability is a advantage. Chelsea have plenty of fast attackers and are pulsating when they have space to attack.

Will Frank give them opportunity? Chelsea exploited Postecoglou’s attacking tactics on their last two trips to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Frank will undoubtedly be more strategic. Is a change to a five-man defense on the cards? Chelsea have allowed goals from three long throws this season. Spurs could have Kevin Danso launching balls into the box. They will observe that Chelsea have improved at attacking set pieces but are allowing too many chances.

Being so long-ball oriented does not necessarily align with Spurs’ style. But with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski missing, there is a considerable creative responsibility on Mohammed Kudus. Xavi Simons, courted by Chelsea last summer, has not performed to expectations since joining RB Leipzig. Spurs are predictable in open play. Their forwards remain erratic.

But this is one game where the result may excuse the method. Spurs fans will not object if a pragmatic approach halts a four-game losing run against Chelsea. A win would boost Frank’s reign. How he would love to win this battle with Maresca.