TV Guide: Spurs won a trophy at last… now all they have to do is beat PSG

The last Spurs boss to do so was Peter Shreeves, who replaced Terry Venables in 1991 and received joint custody of the Community Shield via a 0-0 draw with Arsenal. Spurs’ line-up that day included Gary Lineker, Paul Gascoigne and Gary Mabbutt, and they still managed to finish 15th in the final First Division season 10 months later. Shreeves was promptly sacked.

The first competitive match of the post-Son and post-Ange era, Spurs face Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup final in Udine on Wednesday (TNT Sports 1, 8pm). The Super Cup is the grandest and often most forgettable of the pre-season irritations, and Frank must be thrilled he’s been lumbered with the responsibility. Just a quick runout against the best team in the world. No pressure.

But PSG will not have played a match of any kind since losing the Club World Cup final exactly a month prior and only returned to full training last Wednesday. Frank could instantly get a baptism of Spurs here – a potential victory over the Champions League holders and a trophy, freighted with endless caveats. Or perhaps PSG are only showing last season’s 17th-best Premier League team the respect they deserve, and six days’ preparation will be enough.

And then the Premier League, the content machine that never sleeps, begins on Friday with Liverpool v Bournemouth (Sky Sports Main Event, 8pm). This will be the first season where recently substituted players are interviewed mid-match, an Americanism no one asked for but could end up being quite fun. Worst-case scenario, a player is inevitably going to have to react live to their team conceding a late winner, while gritting their teeth and firing platitudes at Daniel Sturridge.

Saturday’s two televised matches are Aston Villa v Newcastle (TNT Sports 1, 12.30pm) and Wolves hosting Manchester City (Sky Sports Main Event, 5.30pm). In the unlikely event you have better things to do with your life, allow the Lineker-less Match of the Day to act as your methadone (BBC One, 10.20pm).

Earlier in the week the Carabao Cup proper begins, with the pick of the fixtures the titans of Bromley hosting the giants of Ipswich (Sky Sports Football, 8pm, Tuesday), but you can also enjoy such delights as Chesterfield v Mansfield and Newport County v Millwall.

For non-football fans, this is the week to do that thing you’ve been putting off. Read a book. Grout the bathroom. Touch grass. The peak of your sporting entertainment will be the first round of the Rugby Championship, as South Africa host Australia on Saturday at Ellis Park (Sky Sports Action, 4.10pm). South Africa go into this match as holders and world No 1.

Photograph by Marc Atkins/Getty Images