The away game against Chelsea on Sunday will be a tough test for Antonio Conte's revamped Tottenham team. Stamford Bridge is expected to be sweltering, so Spurs must bring their own heat to the match and leave a lasting impression.
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 15: Tottenham Hotspur head coach and manager Antonio Conte after the conclusion of the Premier League game between Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley on May 15, 2022 in London, United Kingdom. (Image)
It's great that Tottenham Hotspur is currently leading the league after just one match, but the road to winning the league is long and difficult given that Chelsea will be playing away on Sunday and that there will be 36 games remaining.
At Stamford Bridge, playing Chelsea on the road has always been a difficult and frustrating experience. The mental block that every player who wears the colors of Tottenham seems to have when playing there, from terrible refereeing decisions against Spurs. In almost 30 years, we have only ever achieved victory on this field. Interestingly, they did so in 2018 against a Chelsea squad led by Antonio Conte.
Tottenham Hotspur fell to Chelsea four times in a row last season, in both league games.
Incredibly, Tottenham Hotspur fell to Chelsea four times last season, including defeats in both league and cup matches. But what has changed since we lost to Chelsea in January, when we last played them?
First off, I don't think Tottenham will start with seven defenders and two midfielders, Harry Winks and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who like to play deeper than in the final third.
I'm convinced that two lone strikers won't have to travel too deep to collect the ball and produce any scoring opportunities. Matt Doherty won't be able to play a left wing-back position either.
Conte might not make any adjustments from Saturday's game against Southampton unless the Italian is compelled to do so due to last-minute illnesses or injuries. Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur appeared to be a perfect match. Emerson Royal completely overturned the negative perception of his game from previous season by playing with such assurance that it seemed as though he had just been signed.
However, Conte has a lot of trouble with our summer additions. Bentancur and Yves Bissouma should make a fantastic pairing. Bentancur's weaknesses could be contrasted with Bissouma's strong features. Our new addition is quick in his movement and tackling, and he rarely makes mistakes when it comes to how quickly he's being closed down.
Bentancur, albeit incredibly silky and, dare we say, Dimitar Berbatov-like,can occasionally find himself in trouble when playing out of deeper areas. Even so, it's not very typical. His placement away from the ball has also been questioned on occasion. Because Bissouma can balance this out, Tottenham will have the perfect partnership.
Dejan Kulusevski is back and lighting up the league. Any defense must contend with Kulusevski's cunning and sneaky mobility. Because of his outstanding performance last weekend, if Conte wanted to give Richarlison his Spurs debut, he might be just as likely to switch Kulusevski for the fearsome Brazilian striker as Heung-Min Son.
Clement Lenglet will probably start behind Ben Davies, and I wouldn't be surprised if Ryan Sessegnon keeps his spot in front of Ivan Perisic as well. Although Tottenham might benefit greatly from both of the new players against London rivals Chelsea right away, Conte might choose experience over novelty in a match of this sort, especially given that both players are unfamiliar with the league and its tempo.
Although it could have been intriguing to witness some unfamiliar faces in the starting lineup against Southampton, as a Spurs supporter, it was astounding to watch a bench that had been entirely revamped and included so much talent.
No matter how early in the season it is, Tottenham cannot afford to lose to Chelsea again. The game this weekend should make a message.
Dejan Kulusevski (C), a Swedish midfielder for Tottenham Hotspur, celebrates after scoring the fourth goal of an English Premier League game against Southampton on August 6, 2022, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. -. (Image )
Early surrender to Chelsea might not inspire a comeback like we witnessed against Southampton.
We cannot repeat the sluggish offense and careless defense we displayed against Chelsea last year. To show their entire talent and ability this season, the Spurs must step up their game to a level above where it is now.
Conte must avoid taking a cautious approach to the game and field a team capable of going up against Chelsea head-on, putting an end to the more hostile atmosphere that develops when Tottenham visits west London.
Tottenham Hotspur is more than just Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son, as last Saturday's victory demonstrated. Any player can score goals or create hazardous chances at any time. For the first time in a few years, Tottenham's style was calm and deliberate.
The movement of players away from the ball seems to benefit and support the player who is currently holding it. The team as a whole is attacking with greater intensity and intent, but also showing more composure and consideration for the game going on around them.
For Spurs, the London Derby against Chelsea on Sunday is a chance to emphasize this. to demonstrate these qualities in a much harder game and in a much harder setting.
One may argue that Tottenham has the advantage in terms of fitness going into this match. Fitness and vigor were the two main focuses of the Spurs preseason. The team is being trained to move and run at a level we haven't seen since the Mauricio Pochettino era.
The heat and humidity on Sunday afternoon will probably result in a slower-moving game than what we're used to in England because London is expected to be at its hottest point for the whole weekend. However, these Spurs players ought to be able to compete at a higher level than their opponents and succeed.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0