Tottenham’s Frank hopes Kolo Muani’s brace is just the start
PARIS – Tottenham manager Thomas Frank said Randal Kolo Muani delivered a glimpse of his potential after the on-loan forward scored twice and provided an assist in Wednesday’s 5-3 Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
Kolo Muani, 26, joined PSG from Eintracht Frankfurt in a €90 million transfer in 2023 but struggled for form in Paris and spent last season on loan at Juventus before signing a season-long loan deal with Spurs for the 2025-26 campaign. Under UEFA regulations, the France international was permitted to play against his parent club.
The striker opened his Tottenham account shortly after halftime, reacting quickest to convert a loose ball inside the area. He added a second with a composed finish in the 70th minute, briefly reducing the deficit after PSG forward Vitinha scored a hat trick for the hosts. Kolo Muani also assisted Richarlison earlier in the first half, heading across goal for the Brazilian to put Spurs 1-0 up.
Frank praised the forward’s impact and said his performance reflected what the club expects once he reaches full fitness.
“I think today we saw what hopefully we can expect from Kolo Muani,” Frank said post-match. “Two goals and an assist every game is probably too much to ask, but he joined late, he didn’t have a preseason and he’s still not at 100%.”
The result came three days after Tottenham’s 4-1 loss to Arsenal in the north London derby, a defeat that drew criticism of Frank’s tactical approach. The manager said Spurs produced a response in Paris and highlighted the team’s improved intensity and confidence.
“After a bad performance against Arsenal, today I saw more of the identity we want to create,” Frank said. “Character, personality, aggressiveness — it was there.”
Despite the defeat, Frank said the display offered encouragement for the weeks ahead but called for improvements in defence after conceding several avoidable goals.
Tottenham sit 16th in the Champions League standings after five matches and host Slavia Prague on December 9. The club will hope Kolo Muani’s double signals the start of a sustained run of form as they continue to integrate the striker into Frank’s system.