The Man in The Shed

22^nd February 2020 – No way Jose

There was no chance to ponder the dismal loss to United with another big game 5 days later ! If you can guarantee a fixture to raise a Chelsea team it is against Tottenham. Add a certain Jose Mourinho to the mix and that’s spicy enough.

With both teams arriving on the back of disappointing losses who would raise their game ? It had been highlighted in the media leading up to this game that a certain Ethan Ampadu had led the Leipzig defence to a clean sheet and win against Tottenham in the Champions League. The poor lad had been struggling for game time on loan yet due to injuries he’d stepped in and played a blinder. Ferdinand on BT Sport had heaped praise on the young lad. I had to chuckle.

Statistics told us that the next best team in the league on current form since Jose joined Tottenham (after Liverpool) were the men from North London. They were now just a point behind us in fifth place.

The teamsheet and formation showed that Lampard was prepared to be adaptable. Switching to 3-5-2 and bringing Alonso back into the team was a bold move. Even more so the inclusion of Giroud as the focus of the attack supported by Barkley and Mount. Leaving Kepa on the bench again seemed hardly worth a mention.

You had to wonder how scientific a coach is when picking a team. Were Giroud and Alonso in the team on merit or because they both loved a goal against Spurs !

It was normal service at home as Chelsea spent the opening minutes in the ascendency. You had one team with no strikers facing another who had strikers that weren’t scoring.

And then our first magic moment: Jorginho played a great pass up to Giroud whose shot was well saved by Lloris; Barkley’s follow up shot hit the post but Giroud’s second shot somehow squeezed into the corner. Cue delirium around the ground until the dreaded VAR check goes up on the screens (possible offside). Instantly a loud chorus of “It’s not football any more” rings around the ground. A state of almost suspended animation until the decision is – goal !

Very little from Tottenham until a corner is headed goalwards forcing a fine save from Caballero. Of course, no game is complete without a comedy moment from the veteran goalkeeper and minutes later a long ball out of defence teases him into racing out of his area to beat the Spurs striker to the ball. The striker beats him to it, knocks it past him and then they both chase the ball as it looks like trickling into the goal. Somehow it misses the goal and we all giggle nervously.

Please don’t concede before half time I’m pleading to myself. Somehow, we do.

Well that was actually fun. Giroud had justified his selection, as has Barkley and Mount and the formation is working (mostly). Only James seems to be struggling a bit on the ball today. Caballero has made two good saves; Christensen is aggressive in the Zorro mask but Kovacic is running the show (again). There seems really intensity in the play for the whole 45 minutes.

It didn’t take long in the second half to get going again either. Magic moment #2 as Giroud heads on to Mount who crosses. Barkley guides it across for Alonso to drill in a fine second goal. No VAR issues with that one.

Somehow Lo Celso managed to remain on the pitch after stamping on Azpilicueta right in front of the benches. Yet again I expected a complete bun-fight of 22 players and 2 sets of benches – nothing. And VAR said no red card (although they changed their minds after the game).

There was then another great chance for Alonso from a free kick which rattled the bar – that would have been no more than we deserved. This was a time for us home fans to enjoy ourselves. Chants of “We can see you sneaking out” as the pessimists in the away section drifted away.

Of course, no game is ever easy at home this season so the sight of Lamela’s tame pass deflecting off an innocent Rüdiger as Caballero dived the wrong way was a final comedy moment of the day. Five nervy minutes of injury time passed and we’d done the double over Tottenham.

That was a game to enjoy. The crowd were up for it; the team were up for it; some great “banter” in the chanting between the teams.

Kovacic was immense for Chelsea. Just about everyone played well. Tottenham were very average.

Back to the Champions League next. Just the small matter of Bayern Munich – time to re-live 2012 all over again.