Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
The title race is over as Chelsea were crowned Premier League champions on Friday night after victory over West Brom at The Hawthorns. It was a case of the inevitable once Tottenham had suffered defeat to West Ham seven days prior.
With all the talk of a title tilt on the back burner for at least another season the focus swiftly shifts to the fact that it is the last ever game to be played at White Hart Lane and Mauricio Pochettino’s men will not only want to end this era on a high but they will also want to secure a second place finish.
As we all know once Tottenham missed out on the title last season they conspired to finish third in a two horse race and the aim will be to make sure that it does not happen again especially as they only need a solitary point to get themselves over the line.
Last Friday was certainly a night to forget as West Ham derailed their hopes of hunting down Chelsea in the worst possible way. In fairness it was an off night for many if not all of the Tottenham side that featured as they never really got a foothold in the game.
Perhaps the occasion got the better of them and when you add that to the F.A. Cup Semi Final defeat to Chelsea a few weeks previously then critics will say that they have “bottled it” and do not have the big game mentality, well that is an easy stick to beat Tottenham with in my opinion.
Credit has to go to them for making something of a title race that was all but non existent back in March and going on their own relentless run of nine straight league wins. They may not have won the title but they would have many neutrals appreciation during that streak.
But unfortunately it could not be a perfect ten and it brings to the situation that we are in today where they are left fighting to secure a runners-up prize when they go up against a Manchester United side that booked their place in the Europa League Final on Thursday night.
They once again made life more difficult than it needed to be as they only managed a draw at Old Trafford and had former Manchester City old boy John Guidetti to thank for fluffing his lines with literally the last kick of the game. Mourinho’s Europa League gamble could have spectacularly backfired at the hands of Celta Vigo.
The reason they have gone all out for Europa League glory was due to the fact that they were handed out a defeat to Arsenal this time last week. It was a much changed outfit and it seemed that even before the encounter Mourinho felt that the shortest route to the Champions League made the most sense.
It does also beg the question as to whether or not Mourinho will name a strong lineup for the second trip to North London in the space of seven days. He does have the luxury where 6th place is a given and he could go into the Europa League Final with Ajax with a very refreshed squad.
It will be one that does not include Eric Bailly after his sending off on Thursday, but with it only being a European ban he is available this afternoon. The same cannot be said for goalscorer Marouane Fellaini who sits out the last of his three match ban.
In the last three matches, United have only managed to pick up just two points. A draw in the Manchester derby was then added to three days later with another draw at Old Trafford. This time against Swansea and you have to say it was nothing short than Paul Clement’s side deserved.
United have stuttered towards the end of the season but in all fairness if you were to ask the fans as long as they beat Ajax in just under a fortnights time then it will cap off what in essence has still been a successful season what with their EFL Cup win back in February.
Not counting the Community Shield that is still one more trophy than Tottenham have earned in this campaign and Tottenham will look to try and at least atone for that by making sure they are the best of the rest and there is not a similar collapse to 12 months ago.
When you factor in the occasion this afternoon coupled with whether or not Jose Mourinho will name anything near resembling a full strength side then you do have to make Tottenham favourites especially with their imperious home form this season.
It’s currently sixteen wins and two draws from their eighteen run outs at White Hart Lane and they will want to make sure they finish this campaign unbeaten in front of their own fans. But as we know Jose Mourinho loves nothing more than spoiling a party where possible.
Tottenham will look to bounce back from the disappointment of not capturing the Premier League title while United do not really have a lot to play for, throw what should be a rocking White Hart Lane into the mix and it is hard to look past the perfect send off for White Hart Lane. One last home win for me.
