Tottenham vs Chelsea – Match Preview

This is it, we have the reached F.A. Cup Semi Final Weekend and the first of the two blockbuster Wembley fixtures.
I think it’s fair to say that you could not have asked for a better pairing for this late afternoon as Premier League leaders Chelsea go up against their nearest rivals Tottenham.

There is obviously not league points at stake but just how important could a win for either side be, not just to continue their respective cup runs but to also lay down a marker in regards to the run in for the title. A win for Chelsea asserts their dominance, while a win for Tottenham will just ask a few more questions of Antonio Conte’s men.

No-one really thought we had a title a race on our hands a few weeks ago but I think we can safely say that is the case now as the gap at the top between Chelsea and Tottenham has been cut to just 4 points. Two defeats in Chelsea’s last four league matches has just kept them honest at the top of the table.

But it’s not just the fact that they have tasted defeat it is the fact that Tottenham have been relentless in their chase of The Blues. Where Chelsea have perhaps stuttered, Tottenham have simply not faltered, it is seven straight league wins for Mauricio Pochettino’s men.

They are not just looking over their shoulders in regards to making sure a top four finish is secured they are continually looking ahead at the task in hand and that task is continuing to erode Chelsea’s gap at the top of the table. One that we all felt insurmountable at the end of March.

The title race has been blown wide open thanks to Chelsea’s defeat at Old Trafford last Sunday. It was a game that Chelsea never really turned up to. Antonio Conte was outfoxed by Jose Mourinho, you could even say that he froze on the big stage.

Chelsea were unfortunate to not have a free kick awarded after Ander Herrera’s handball, what then rubbed salt in the wounds was the fact that the same man then played an inch perfect pass to Marcus Rashford, with the England international then slotting the ball past the stand in Asmir Begovic.

It was a game where perhaps Chelsea’s luck is just starting to run out. Thibault Courtois missed the game with an ankle injury which was strangely picked up after a promotional shoot playing Basketball of all things while Marcos Alonso cried ill just before kick off.

Add to the fact that Gary Cahill has not trained due to a stomach bug this week and The Blues decent run of keeping players fit is perhaps coming to an end at just the wrong time. Cahill is a serious doubt for this encounter but Alonso and Courtois should be fit to return.

Chelsea were second best last Sunday and are going to have to play a lot better than they did Six days ago if they are to get the better of what is a rampant Tottenham side right now. Rampant because they have made easy work of both Watford and Bournemouth in the last two weeks.

It has been back to back 4-0 wins for Tottenham at White Hart Lane as they have been firing on all cylinders, but it’s not just those two wins in which they have impressed, it’s the string of results that they have got under their belts since defeat to Liverpool in February.

Not only that though they managed to win three of those games without their talisman Harry Kane. Many felt that the wheels would fall off the Tottenham wagon after Kane picked up an injury in the Quarter Final stage of this competition.

Kane went off injured in the tie with Millwall at White Hart Lane, but the supporting cast have more done their bit over the last few weeks. Not only did they win 6-0 over Neil Harris’ men but they have brushed past all that has gone before them.

Credit has to go to the likes of Heung-min Son, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen who have simply risen to the challenge set to them with the injury to Kane. In fairness to Tottenham they have not missed a beat in Kane’s absence as they continue to pick up this head of steam.

The question though is what shape Mauricio Pochettino goes with today and who will be the man to miss out. If it’s a 3-4-3 then it will be the South Korean international Son that will have to make way, while if they go with a flat back four then it looks like Eric Dier could miss out.

That’s because it is more than likely that Victor Wanyama will once again be pitted head to head with N’Golo Kante in the centre of the pitch. It was a battle that Wanyama came out on top when the two sides met in the league at White Hart Lane at the start of 2017.

That was White Hart Lane and this is Wembley and we all know about Tottenham’s Wembley woes at the new stadium. This is something they are going to have to address and there is no greater time then to finally break the jinx then in a few hours time.

The move to Wembley has not been confirmed yet, but in all likelihood it is to set to happen. If that is to be the case then you get the feeling that this season may well be the best opportunity that Tottenham will have to really push for honours.

If they cannot crack the Wembley enigma then they chances of really pushing for a title next season are unlikely, not only that but if the club can finally break their trophy drought then the chances of keeping this all-star team together over the next few years increases.

So there is a lot riding on this game not just for today, but also for the league and also with Tottenham’s short to medium term future. I really think there is no underestimating the size of clash that is going to take place between themselves and Chelsea.

In a week where John Terry has announced he is to leave the club at the end of the season, he will obviously want to bow out on a high and what better high would there be for the club to perhaps win the double. Although how much of a part Terry plays in that success remains to be seen.

He could very well play in a role in the game Today what with the doubts over Gary Cahill’s fitness but with Kurt Zouma and Nathan Ake arguably ahead of him in the queue it remains to be seen what if any game time the former England captain will be given.

Usually I wrap things up with a prediction but I think this one is far too close to call, it really could go either way. Do not be surprised if this one goes to extra time and even penalties. It’s 1-1 in terms of encounters this season, I guess this one is the rubber match. See you on the other side.