Chelsea tackle Tottenham at present in an enormous sport which can go a great distance in the direction of defining how the season of every crew might be perceived, with greater than a 3rd of the Premier League marketing campaign performed.
Punters playing in an internet on line casino making an attempt to determine who will end larger would have had the 2 sides at related odds to make the highest 4 this season, however the sides have already diverged considerably since these preseason predictions had been made.
After a troublesome summer time, Chelsea have come out of the blocks tremendous shortly and have racked up 28 factors from 14 video games to place themselves in second. Win tonight they usually’ll be simply 4 factors off prime spot.
4 wins and two attracts within the final 6 are a positive signal of a crew in kind, and Enzo Maresca will fancy his crew’s possibilities at present, even enjoying an away sport at their outdated rivals.
Tottenham haven’t had the identical kind of begin – they’ve obtained 20 factors from 14 video games, and have misplaced 3 and received 2 of their final 6. That included a draw with Fulham, defeats to Bournemouth and Ipswich – but in addition potent wins over Manchester Metropolis (4-0) and Aston Villa (4-1).
If Chelsea have shocked everybody with their consistency and quick begin, Spurs have shocked no person by being good at instances and dangerous at different below Ange Postegolou.
The coach seems like he’s below actual stress now – large wins over prime sides are shortly cancelled out by disappointing losses just like the one they suffered in midweek.
It will be going too far to say that Chelsea can beat the Tottenham coach out of a job, however this definitely seems like a definitive sport for him. Win and the scrappy losses are forgotten – lose and the wins over Metropolis and Villa are fairly meaningless as his crew slip in the direction of the decrease finish of the desk.
Maresca has no such worries – he’s to this point forward of expectations that even a loss at Tottenham can’t damage him now. However his CV continues to be lacking an actual assertion win (beating a crumbling Aston Villa final weekend is his excessive water mark to this point).
The scenes at full time in midweek noticed the coach serenaded by away followers at Southampton. It felt like a watershed second for Maresca, who now has his supporters’ affections and full backing.
A convincing win at White Hart Lane at present would make these scenes look tame, and would actually really feel like the beginning of one thing particular.
