Tottenham Hotspur face an extremely difficult test in the UEFA Super Cup clash against a rampant Paris Saint-Germain side, who have dispatched all comers this season, but a FIFA rule may give the Lilywhites a big advantage for the clash.
Ange Postecoglou and the Tottenham players created history in Bilbao by securing the club’s first European trophy in 41 years.
The Europa League win allows the North Londoners a chance to win another prestigious trophy when Tottenham take on PSG in the UEFA Super Cup in Udine on August 13.
Needless to say, many Spurs fans are not optimistic about their side’s chances against PSG, who were rampant in the Champions League final, brushing Inter Milan aside 5-0.
Why Tottenham may have an advantage in the Super Cup clash
While beating this treble-winning PSG side will be a herculean task for the Lilywhites, they would have one advantage for the clash, due to a FIFA rule.
Football.London have pointed out that world football’s governing body mandates that players must be given at least three weeks of rest after any major tournament.
PSG will take part in the Club World Cup, which gets underway this month, and should they reach the final at New York’s MetLife Stadium on July 13, their players would only begin their summer break then and will not return to pre-season training until August 3.
That raises the possibility that Luis Enrique might rest some key players for the Super Cup clash or at the very least, that several PSG stars would be undercooked and a long way off full fitness, potentially handing Tottenham an advantage.
Good omens for Tottenham head of Super Cup clash
While PSG will go into the final as huge favourites, Tottenham have some good omens ahead of the Super Cup clash.
The showpiece game will be played in Guglielmo Vicario’s home town of Udine, at the Stadio Friuli, which is also where the goalkeeper made his debut for Italy last year.
Additionally, Tottenham are the eighth English team to qualify for the Super Cup and seven of them have gone on to win the competition, namely Liverpool, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Nottingham Forest.