The UEFA Super Cup was always going to be about silverware and bragging rights. But as Paris Saint-Germain prepare to face Tottenham Hotspur in Udine, off-field drama has taken centre stage. From disciplinary omissions to a shock goalkeeping shake-up, both teams arrive with headlines swirling.
For new Spurs boss Thomas Frank, this was supposed to be a fresh start. His first competitive game in charge offers the chance to lift a trophy just weeks after the club ended a 17-year drought with Europa League glory. Yet his plans have been rocked by the absence of Yves Bissouma, dropped for repeated lateness during pre-season.
“It’s a massive game, a great challenge, and an even bigger opportunity,” Frank said. He confirmed Bissouma’s omission was about setting standards, even if it left Spurs short with James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, and Destiny Udogie already sidelined. New signings João Palhinha and Mohammed Kudus are set to make debuts, with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario relishing the chance to play for silverware in his home city.
PSG, meanwhile, have their own storm to weather. Gianluigi Donnarumma, a Champions League winner just two months ago, has been left out of the squad entirely. Coach Luis Enrique took full responsibility, saying he wanted “a different profile” in goal. The decision follows the €40m signing of Lucas Chevalier from Lille, earmarked as the new No. 1.
Donnarumma responded with an emotional farewell on Instagram, saying he was “disappointed and disheartened” but grateful to PSG fans. His agent, Enzo Raiola, has blasted the club’s handling of the situation and hinted at legal action. Chelsea, Manchester United, and Inter Milan are among the clubs linked with a move.
For PSG, the shake-up is tactical as much as political. Luis Enrique wants a goalkeeper more comfortable with the ball at his feet, even if it means parting ways with one of the world’s best shot-stoppers. For Tottenham, the challenge is mental as much as physical, with a chance to cement Frank’s reign with an early piece of silverware.
Both sides have questions hanging over them. Both have squads in transition. But when the whistle blows in Udine, it will be about more than just football, it will be about proving that even in chaos, champions can rise.
