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When Chelsea were searching for a replacement for Mauricio Pochettino in May 2024, several managers were evaluated. It was an extensive process that saw the club engaging with Thomas Frank before they eventually opted for Enzo Maresca.

The belief was that Maresca’s positional game and focus on possession rendered him the best fit for Chelsea’s team of skilled players. Frank, who had achieved great success at Brentford, had to wait for his big break. Passed over by Manchester United after they let go of Erik ten Hag, his moment arrived when Tottenham hired the Danish manager after sacking Ange Postecoglou last summer.

At present, Frank and Maresca confront one another, both in high-profile roles. Theirs is not currently a established rivalry, but they experienced some hard-fought encounters last season. Frank’s Brentford were unlucky to endure a 2-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge last December and had the more clear-cut chances when they drew 0-0 with Chelsea in April.

Those were two decent games, made more interesting by the tactical differences between the managers. Frank is considered a pragmatist, more inclined to be straightforward, play on the counter-attack, and wait for chances to deploy an array of deadly set-piece strategies, whereas Maresca leans towards dogmatism. The Italian hails from the Pep Guardiola coaching tree; he values control of the ball.

Chelsea’s possession average of 59.7% this season is bettered only by Liverpool in the Premier League. Frank varies his approach more. Spurs are not instinctively a defensive side – they are ranked seventh in the possession standings, ahead of Manchester United and Newcastle – but it is notable that their strongest displays have come in games where they have surrendered the control. They were outstanding with a back five in the Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain, executed an impressive counterpress when they won 2-0 at Manchester City, and destroyed Everton with set pieces last Sunday.

Those experiences suggest Spurs should play on the counter when they face Chelsea. Tottenham, after all, have only one victory from their past seven home league games. The numbers are concerning. Spurs’ return of 13 points from their past 18 home fixtures is the poorest of any team to have been in the top flight during that timeframe.

This is a hard game to predict. Spurs are five points off first place and undefeated in the Champions League. Chelsea are Club World Cup winners and reached the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup this week. However, fans of both sides remain doubtful about Frank and Maresca. Spurs supporters have expressed frustration about a shortage of creativity when the pressure is on their team to attack; Chelsea’s complain about their young side’s immaturity, indiscipline, and struggles against low blocks.

The reality is that both managers are performing adequately. Chelsea could fall to 12th if they are defeated to Spurs, but there is background to their inconsistent results. Injuries to Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill have been costly. A interrupted pre-season, resulting from the club going all the way at the Club World Cup, cannot be ignored.

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

Maresca was displeased with Delap, who is banned for the fixture to Spurs. But he is also considering how to make his team more penetrative against defensive teams. The goals have dried up for João Pedro, and more reliability is necessary from Chelsea’s young wide players.

Disappointment built during last weekend’s 2-1 home defeat by Sunderland. Chelsea had 68.4% possession, their peak of the campaign, but their expected goals was 0.97. Sunderland’s adjustment to a back five flummoxed Maresca. Régis Le Bris had prepared well. Numbers showing 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 fundamental philosophy is being used against them and used to their disadvantage.

This is not a new issue. It was zero victories from the four league games in which Chelsea had their most possession last season, highlighting a vulnerability when Maresca’s drive for control is taken to the limit. The danger is falling into sterile domination, to borrow Arsène Wenger’s phrase. José Mourinho’s line about the team with the ball having the anxiety also is relevant.

Maresca contests this view, but it is worth noting that Chelsea had 33.5% possession when they delivered their best performance under the Italian and routed PSG in the Club World Cup final. Variety is a strength. Chelsea have several fast attackers and are exciting when they have space to attack.

Will Frank give them space? Chelsea punished Postecoglou’s gung-ho tactics on their past two trips to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Frank will undoubtedly be smarter. Is a shift to a back five on the cards? Chelsea have allowed goals from three long throws this season. Spurs could have Kevin Danso chucking balls into the box. They will note that Chelsea have improved at attacking set pieces but are allowing too many chances.

Being so straightforward does not necessarily match Spurs’ history. But with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski missing, there is a considerable creative burden on Mohammed Kudus. Xavi Simons, pursued by Chelsea last summer, has not performed to expectations since arriving from RB Leipzig. Spurs are lacking variety in general play. Their forwards remain erratic.

But this is one game where the outcome may justify the approach. Spurs fans will not mind if a pragmatic approach ends a four-game sequence of defeats against Chelsea. Victory would ignite Frank’s tenure. How he would relish to win this battle with Maresca.