Their upcoming clash with Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes on November 26 presents both a challenge and an opportunity, particularly for Tottenham's young winger Wilson Odobert, who admitted he is relishing the occasion.
Having risen through PSG's youth ranks from 2017 to 2021, the 20-year-old Frenchman told RMC Sport: "Of course, it's an important match for me because I was trained at Paris, I don't make any distinction; I take matches as they come, without any particular pressure. Giving my all everywhere is the most important thing."
He added with a smile: "I remember it was a good match. Messi, Mbappe, and Neymar were on the pitch (all three had scored). It's a good memory, so I hope that when I return it will be an even better memory."
Tottenham's road here has been mixed. While they secured vital points, including a 4-0 home win over Copenhagen on November 4, the position at tenth means they are not yet guaranteed safe passage to the knockout rounds. The new expanded format, with each of the 36 teams playing eight matches, places significant pressure on every fixture.
Meanwhile, PSG sit higher in the table but have already dropped points, including a 1-2 home defeat to Bayern Munich in Matchday 4 on November 4, putting them under pressure to reassert dominance in the race for direct qualification to the round of 16.
From Tottenham's perspective, Odobert's attitude stands out: despite facing his former club, he emphasised that his focus remains on performance rather than emotion. That mindset could be crucial if Spurs are to upset the favourites in the French capital.
Manager Thomas Frank will need his squad to deliver coherence, intensity and tactical discipline, qualities Odobert has been developing since his Paris-based academy days. His speed, dribbling and attacking instincts, honed in the PSG youth setup, are seen as assets that Tottenham will rely on, especially after his recent contributions, including a goal in the Copenhagen rout.
Tottenham go into this fixture as the underdogs but with a player in Odobert who knows Paris well, and who insists he will treat the game like any other, focused, determined and ready to make his mark.
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