Special to go back to Spurs – Pochettino
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Tottenham host London rivals Chelsea in the Premier League this evening with the hopes of maintain their fantastic start to the new season.
Spurs have been in great form under boss, Ange Postecoglu, and are unbeaten across their 10 league matches so far. They are proving to be Manchester City’s closest rivals for the title at this stage and will regain top spot in the table should they defeat the Blues tonight.
Chelsea manager, Mauricio Pochettino, returns to north London to face his old club and although the Blues have stumbled in the early stages of his tenure at Stamford Bridge, including losing at home to Brentford last time out, he will want his side to impress.
They gained some much-needed confidence last week with a win over Blackburn in the Carabao Cup but Spurs will be well rested following their most recent win at Crystal Palace.
Follow all the action from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and get the latest odds and tips for the match right here:
Tottenham vs Chelsea
Spurs are the 13th team to have 26 points or more after 10 matches of a Premier League season. Six of the previous 12 went on to win the title, four were runners-up, Arsenal finished third in 2007-08 and Newcastle United were sixth in 1994-95.
Mike Jones6 November 2023 19:25
Tottenham vs Chelsea
The 15 Premier League defeats Chelsea have suffered in 2023 is only one fewer than they lost in 2021 and 2022 combined. It’s their most league defeats in a year since they also lost 15 times in 1994.
Mike Jones6 November 2023 19:20
Ange Postecoglou reveals ‘great admiration’ for Chelsea rival Mauricio Pochettino
Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou has plenty of admiration for Mauricio Pochettino’s appetite to take on a “big challenge” but has suggested he would never allow others to take complete control of recruitment.
Pochettino’s Chelsea visit Spurs on Monday with the west London club struggling for a second consecutive season despite an outlay of £1billion since Todd Boehly took over with his Clearlake Capital consortium last year.
While Pochettino has failed to hit the ground running and acknowledged at the end of September he would “need to be more involved now” with regard to the January transfer window, it is a different story for Postecoglou and his summer transfers.
Mike Jones6 November 2023 19:15
Tottenham vs Chelsea
Tottenham’s 26 points from their opening 10 league games is their best start to a top-flight season since 1960-61, when they won their first 10 and went on to take the title.
Will history repeat itself?
Mike Jones6 November 2023 19:10
Tottenham vs Chelsea team changes
Tottenham make two changes from the team that defeated Crystal Palace 2-1 last time out. Destiny Udogie and Brennan Johnson come in for Ben Davies and Richarlison.
Mauricio Pochettino, meanwhile, makes three changes to the Chelsea side that earned a 2-0 Carabao Cup fourth-round win over Blackburn Rovers.
Levi Colwill, Thiago Silva and Moises Caicedo come in with Marc Cucurella, Benoit Badiashile and Lesley Ugochukwu dropping out
Mike Jones6 November 2023 19:05
Tottenham vs Chelsea line-ups
Tottenham XI: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bissouma, Sarr, Maddison; Kulusevski, Son, Johnson
Chelsea XI: Sanchez; James, Thiago Silva, Disasi, Colwill; Fernandez, Gallagher, Caicedo; Palmer, Sterling, Jackson
Mike Jones6 November 2023 19:00
Pochettino explains how Tottenham’s game can suit Chelsea
Mauricio Pochettino says that Tottenham’s attacking style of play could suit his Chelsea team and give them space to run into the final third.
Chelsea have had some success this season against teams who prefer to have the ball and they have come undone against stubborn defensive sides like Brentford.
“When we play against blocks that play so low, we struggle to find and to understand a little bit the positional game and movement. When we have space, we can perform better and create more chances,” said Pochettino.
“You need to have the capacity to be mature. We are talking about a young team who need to grow. You need to be patient. You have to understand the time in the game: when you need to attack, when you need to keep calm and keep possession and circulate the ball.
“These are all things that come with time. At the moment we don’t have time. That’s why we struggle with blocks that play so low. We start to rush decisions, and make mistakes, and not be in positions where we should be. We lost the Nottingham Forest, Villa and Brentford games in transition.
“At 0-0, we need to not lose patience, and keep believing for sure we are going to score. That hasn’t happened. For us that’s why it is better when we play a team that is going to attack you, and also give you space to run.”
Mike Jones6 November 2023 18:55
Tottenham vs Chelsea
No team has scored more Premier League goals away to Spurs than the 51 by Chelsea. The Blues’ four wins at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in all competitions is the most by any side.
Will they add to that tally tonight?
Mike Jones6 November 2023 18:50
Mauricio Pochettino refuses to rule out Tottenham return: ‘Why not?’
The Argentine led Tottenham to the Champions League final as well as four consecutive top-four finishes during his time with the club, but upon departing Spurs Pochettino said he would want to go back “before he dies” in order to try and win a trophy in north London.
Mike Jones6 November 2023 18:45
Pochettino returns to Spurs
Mauricio Pochettino says he is not going to act any differently on the sidelines this evening despite being back at a club he once managed.
Pochettino was in charge of Spurs between 2014 and 2019, a period that saw them overperform and reach the Champions League final.
“I don’t believe we need to show something special,” said Pochettino. “We need to be natural, that’s the most important thing.
“You cannot underestimate the Tottenham and Chelsea fans. I don’t want to be a hypocrite and say something I don’t feel, or I’m in the process of creating. People are clever. Chelsea fans know I was Tottenham, they know about the Champions League, they know about the Battle of the Bridge. It’s impossible to hide this emotion. Now I cannot say I forget all those things. That would be stupid.
“I’m going to be natural. I hope to enjoy to a great game, I want to win, that is our competitive side, and at the same time I want to enjoy being in a place that I was part of the process of building something special. That’s it. I am really calm, and I want to enjoy it, and I hope for a good night for us.”
Mike Jones6 November 2023 18:40
