Blow by blow: Chelsea vs Tottenham
It will be a case of “who wants it most” when Chelsea and Tottenham face off in this London derby at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.
Chelsea’s French midfielder N’Golo Kante (L) vies with Tottenham Hotspur’s English midfielder Dele Alli during the FA Cup semi-final football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at Wembley stadium in London on April 22, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Adrian DENNIS / NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE
Both sides will be looking to bounce back from their respective disappointing defeats at the weekend.
Spurs left Turf Moor on Saturday harbouring a deep sense of injustice. Manager Mauricio Pochettino was not at all enamoured with the officiating as Spurs slumped to a 2-1 defeat to Burnley.
The defeat was a hefty body blow to Spurs’ long-shot title ambitions. Those title hopes are now looking increasingly forlorn after that defeat.
The loss left Spurs six points off the pace in the title race. They will not be giving up the ghost just yet, but defeat on Wednesday could prove terminal.
Meanwhile, Chelsea will be hoping to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat on the domestic front to ease the pressure on embattled manager Maurizio Sarri.
The Blues are still smarting from the drama-filled Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City on Sunday, six days after their elimination from the FA Cup by Manchester United.
Sadly, Chelsea’s gallant display in defeat was overshadowed by what on the face of it looked like a case of a player defying the manager.
However, goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga’s refusal to be subbed when he appeared to be struggling with an injury as penalties loomed has been officially chalked up to a misunderstanding.
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