Chelsea tackle Tottenham immediately in an enormous recreation which is able to go a great distance in the direction of defining how the season of every crew will probably be perceived, with greater than a 3rd of the Premier League marketing campaign performed.
Punters playing in a web-based on line casino attempting to determine who will end increased would have had the 2 sides at comparable 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 and so they’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kind, and Enzo Maresca will fancy his crew’s probabilities immediately, even taking part in an away recreation at their outdated rivals.
Tottenham haven’t had the identical type of begin – they’ve received 20 factors from 14 video games, and have misplaced 3 and gained 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 unhealthy at different underneath Ange Postegolou.
The coach appears like he’s underneath actual stress now – massive 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 actually appears like a definitive recreation 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 thus far forward of expectations that even a loss at Tottenham can’t damage him now. However his CV remains to be lacking an actual assertion win (beating a crumbling Aston Villa final weekend is his excessive water mark thus far).
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 immediately would make these scenes look tame, and would actually really feel like the beginning of one thing particular.
