Tottenham’s dreams of making it to the Champions League are fading away with each passing day. Their 2-0 loss against Chelsea on Thursday marked their second defeat to a London rival in just four days in the Premier League, following a 3-2 defeat to Arsenal in the north London derby on Sunday.
Amid these losses, it was confirmed that England will only have four spots in the next season’s expanded Champions League, not five.
This news adds to Tottenham’s challenges. They currently sit fifth in the table, trailing fourth-place Aston Villa by seven points with a game in hand. With tough matches against Liverpool and Manchester City still to come in their remaining four games, closing the gap to Villa seems increasingly unlikely.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou acknowledged the team’s lack of belief and conviction in their game, suggesting that their confidence might be low. He stressed the need for a change in mindset to play the style of football they aspire to.
Chelsea secured the victory with headed goals by Trevoh Chalobah in the 24th minute and Nicolas Jackson in the 72nd minute. Despite their struggles in the Premier League this season, Chelsea could still secure a place in one of the minor European competitions.
Chelsea moved up above West Ham and now sits in eighth place, trailing Newcastle by two points and Manchester United by three points in sixth place. It’s expected that two of these three teams will secure spots in either the Europa League or Europa Conference League for the next season.
Chelsea’s manager Mauricio Pochettino expressed his satisfaction with his team’s performance, calling it the best feeling he’s had all season.
“After 10 months, we’re starting to realize our competitiveness,” Pochettino remarked. “This demonstrates that we’re on the right track. It’s not just about individual players’ names; it’s about our ability to compete.”
Despite his positive outlook, Pochettino hinted at uncertainty regarding his future with Chelsea, suggesting that he feels he’s under constant scrutiny and judgment.
“It’s challenging to see that I’m under constant scrutiny and judgment every week,” he commented, adding, “We’ll see if I’ll have the opportunity to build upon today’s performance.”
Tottenham’s record against Chelsea reflects a long-standing challenge, with just one win in their last 34 away league games against Chelsea. This dominance has made it one of the most lopsided fixtures in the top-flight league.
Chelsea secured the victory with a goal from Trevoh Chalobah, who headed in a free kick from Conor Gallagher. This goal highlighted Tottenham’s struggle with set pieces, conceding their 15th goal of the season from such situations, indicating a recurring problem under manager Ange Postecoglou.
