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When Chelsea were searching for a successor for Mauricio Pochettino in May 2024, multiple managers were in contention. It was an thorough process that saw the club engaging with Thomas Frank before they finally selected Enzo Maresca.

The opinion was that Maresca’s positional game and focus on possession rendered him the best fit for Chelsea’s roster of technicians. Frank, who had excelled at Brentford, had to remain patient for his big break. Overlooked by Manchester United after they dismissed Erik ten Hag, his break came when Tottenham hired the Danish manager after sacking Ange Postecoglou last summer.

Now, Frank and Maresca face each other, both holding major roles. Theirs is not currently a established rivalry, but they experienced some hard-fought duels last season. Frank’s Brentford were unfortunate to endure a 2-1 loss at Stamford Bridge last December and created the more clear-cut chances when they drew 0-0 with Chelsea in April.

Those were two engaging games, made more intriguing by the contrasting styles between the managers. Frank is considered a practical manager, more likely to be straightforward, play on the break, and wait for chances to deploy an array of clinical set-piece routines, whereas Maresca leans towards ideological rigidity. The Italian is a product of the Pep Guardiola school; he prizes 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 mixes it up more. Spurs are not naturally a defensive side – they are ranked seventh in the possession standings, ahead of Manchester United and Newcastle – but it is notable that their strongest showings have come in games where they have relinquished the initiative. They were superb with a five-man defense in the Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain, implemented an exceptional pressing game when they won 2-0 at Manchester City, and dominated Everton with set pieces last Sunday.

Those results suggest Spurs ought to adopt a defensive approach when they face Chelsea. Tottenham, it must be noted, have only one victory from their last seven home league games. The numbers are awful. Spurs’ return of 13 points from their last 18 home outings is the poorest of any team to have been in the top flight during that period.

This is a difficult game to read. Spurs are five points off the top 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 expressed frustration about a absence of creativity when the pressure is on their team to attack; Chelsea’s lament about their young side’s inexperience, indiscipline, and toils against low blocks.

The reality is that both managers are managing reasonably well. Chelsea could slip to 12th if they lose to Spurs, but there is context to their mixed results. Injuries to Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill have been costly. A disrupted pre-season, resulting from the club going all the way at the Club World Cup, cannot be ignored.

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

Maresca was furious with Delap, who is banned for the fixture to Spurs. But he is also considering how to make his team more incisive against low blocks. The goals have slowed down for João Pedro, and more consistency is required from Chelsea’s young attacking midfielders.

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

This is not a new issue. It was zero victories from the four league games in which Chelsea had their most possession last season, underscoring a flaw when Maresca’s quest for control is taken to extremes. The danger is slipping into ineffective control, to borrow Arsène Wenger’s expression. José Mourinho’s comment about the team with the ball having the worry also is relevant.

Maresca contests this view, but it is worth noting that Chelsea had 33.5% possession when they delivered their most impressive performance under the Italian and decisively beat PSG in the Club World Cup final. Variety is a advantage. Chelsea have a number of fast attackers and are pulsating when they have space to attack.

Will Frank grant them opportunity? Chelsea exploited Postecoglou’s attacking tactics on their past two trips to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Frank will surely be more cautious. Is a change to a back five possible? 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 gotten better at offensive set pieces but are conceding too many chances.

Being so straightforward does not necessarily match Spurs’ traditions. But with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski missing, there is a heavy creative load on Mohammed Kudus. Xavi Simons, courted by Chelsea last summer, has not done enough since joining RB Leipzig. Spurs are one-dimensional in open play. Their forwards remain unreliable.

But this is one game where the outcome may validate the method. Spurs fans will not complain if a pragmatic approach breaks a four-game sequence of defeats against Chelsea. Success would boost Frank’s reign. How he would cherish to win this contest with Maresca.