Overview

Chelsea advance the ball upfield, checking inside to Moises Caicedo just inside the Tottenham half. No pressure yet, the defenders languidly drifting back to their task. Time to float the ball across the field to Pedro Neto. There’s a defender in his periphery, but he’s taking more of a watching brief. Chelsea’s No. 7 looks up and sees blue shirts keeping themselves company. Without that pressure on the ball, it should have been easy enough to pick out one of Cole Palmer or Nicolas Jackson. Neto overhit them both, and somehow Spurs prolonged the inevitable.

Quote: “Of course, they were going to concede. Any team that treats defending its own back post as a side quest cannot fancy its chances of a clean sheet.”

Translation: Of course, they were going to concede. Any team that treats defending its back post lightly cannot expect to keep a clean sheet.

Tottenham’s defensive identity seems lost amidst ongoing struggles. Despite having key players like Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven back, the team still displays a concerning lack of coherence in their defensive strategies, often allowing opponents ample opportunity to threaten their goal. Chelsea’s success in finding space highlights these weaknesses further.

As the match progressed, Tottenham’s attack showed signs of frustration and a disconnect with the fans, culminating in chants of discontent during critical substitutions made by Manager Postecoglou. The lack of aggressive pressing typical of Postecoglou’s tactics was evident, with Tottenham failing to capitalize on their chances.

Looking ahead, unless Tottenham can address these pressing issues, including their defensive organization and attacking efficiency, the specter of underperformance looms large, particularly with Europa League commitments approaching.