We Ain't Got No History

I guess the key question is, who was on the other end of the line?

It’s not the first time Enzo’s done the phone call celebration, so let’s just leave it at the ambiguous notion that he’s answering the call — the call to action, the call to motivation, the call to perform, the call to lead, the call to win.

One goal, one assist. Three points and a win against Spurs.

And for just a fleeting moment, everything felt right with the world.

Hato’s finishing the season in great form, and I’m excited to see how he fits into Xabi Alonso’s plans, especially if we go to a back-three (and/or if, Marc Cucurella were to leave).

Having to make last-ditch tackles is not exactly the best plan of action in defending, but if you have to resort to one, it doesn’t get much better than the on from Hato against James Maddison in the final few minutes.

Getting the winner against Spurs is not a bad way to go about scoring your first Premier League goal!

But beyond just that, it’s been a pretty decent first full season at Chelsea for the young midfielder — never easy making the jump from Loan Army to regular first-team rotation — and he even got close to going to the World Cup with Brazil as a result.

We’re obviously better if Enzo sticks around, but Santos has great promise at 22 and could make the needed step up if he had to. We’ve got Valentín Barco coming in as well of course, so our midfield options should remain strong either way.

vs. SPURS (PL, H, W 2-1)

EXCEPTIONAL (8.5-9.5): —

EXCELLENT (7.5-8.4): Enzo (8.2)

GOOD (6.5-7.4): Hato (7.4), Santos (6.9), Sánchez (6.7), Palmer (6.6), Caicedo (6.4)

AVERAGE (5.5-6.4): Cucurella (6.3), Acheampong (6.2), Neto (5.7), Chalobah (5.6, sub), Fofana (5.9)

SUBPAR (4.5-5.4): Sarr (5.4, sub), Essugo (5.4, sub), Mheuka (5.3, sub)

BAD (3.5-4.4): Garnacho (4.0, sub), Delap (3.9)

TERRIBLE (2.5-3.4): —

“It was obvious from minute one that we didn’t, at times, have the energy and the intensity that we needed. We had it in patches, it was always going to be tough with the turnaround from the cup final. The physical and psychological load that that put on us, we knew that was going to be the case.

“[We] just needed to dig in for the result. I thought we’d done well at the end [and] it was a real team performance. […] There were lads out there tonight that were dead on their feet. But the crowd and the enthusiasm and the drive from the crowd […] just push a little bit extra.”

Both teams had something to play for, but only Chelsea seemed to want to do something about it at first, with the visitors offering very little, outside of a few enterprising runs from Mathys Tel, who seemed to be under the impression that it was 30°C outside and really needed to tuck up one leg of his shorts. Didn’t help his finishing, that’s for sure.

Chelsea weren’t particularly dangerous either, and the game featured zero shots on target from either side through the first quarter hour. But Chelsea were the better side, and we got our reward through Enzo Fernández, who showed off some rarely seen shooting skill from range to give us the 1-0 lead on 18 minutes.

That would be all for the first half, with the second half then continuing on in similar vein. Spurs did start coming forward a bit more to look for that point to save themselves from relegation, but that left a bit more space for Chelsea as well. And we would take advantage of that as Enzo turned provided to set up Andrey Santos and give us the 2-0 lead halfway through the period.

Alas, Spurs would quickly get one back through a scuffed backheel attempt finding its way to a wide open Richarlison, setting up a slightly nervy final 15 minutes. Jorrel Hato made one tremendous last ditch tackle on Spurs’ best chance, and that Maddison chance was thankfully the closest Spurs would get to an equalizer.

Things got a bit heated in the final minutes, not unsurprisingly, and at one point we spent a solid two minutes just wrestling in the penalty area on a defensive corner,

Back to a back-four with Fofana and Hato in the center and Colwill rested for workload concerns

Acheampong’s first start in 13 games

Our first Premier League win in two and a half months

Alas, Man City failed to beat Bournemouth in the other game today, which means that Champions League is now officially out of our reach (and it also means Arsenal are champions; BOOOOOO)

Europa League or Conference League assured with a win on the final day however (depending on how Brighton do)

Spurs still not quite safe from relegation; LOL!

Next up: Sunderland away on the final day of the season

KTBFFH

PLAYER RATINGS:

It’s the final home game of the season, and it could be a juicy one: Spurs are here and fighting for their Premier League survival. They need a point to avoid relegation; we need a win to keep faint hopes alive of Champions League (or Europa League) football next season.

It’s still Calum McFarlane in charge (Xabi Alonso only starts on July 1, officially), and it’s a familiar look from the interim head coach. Levi Colwill’s rested, as expected. Unfortunately, it looks like João Pedro misses out (due to a knock), so it’s Liam Delap up front. Hat-trick incoming! Malo Gusto’s also not in the squad: Josh Acheampong starts and we’ve got a few Academy kids on the bench, including Jesse Derry back from his concussion.

Here we go!

Date / Time: Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 20.15 BST; 3:15pm EDT; 12:45am IST (next day)

Venue: Stamford Bridge, SW6

Referee: Stuart Attwell (on pitch), John Brooks (VAR)

On TV: Sky Sports Main Event (UK); NBCSN (USA); none (India); SuperSport MaXimo 1 (NGA); elsewhere

Streaming: Sky Go (UK); Peacock (USA); JioHotstar (India); DStv Now (NGA)

Be excellent to each other, and party on, dudes!

Chelsea take to the pitch at Stamford Bridge one last time this season — a season that’s been nothing short of a disappointing failure even if by some miracle we end up with Champions League football still.

Here’s that most unlikely, but mathematically still possible scenario:

Aston Villa must win the Europa League final on Wednesday (thus qualifying for next year’s Champions League)

Then, Aston Villa, currently fourth, must lose their last game, away to Manchester City

Liverpool, currently fifth, must win their last game, at home against Brentford: Liverpool would thus finish fourth on goal difference ahead of Villa, and the bonus spot for the Premier League would go to the sixth place, as Villa would’ve qualified via the Europa League instead — this loophole only works if Villa finish fifth

AFC Bournemouth, currently sixth, must lose both of their remaining games, tonight against Manchester City then Sunday against Nottingham Forest, away

Brighton, currently seventh, must lose their final game, at home to Manchester United

Brentford, currently eighth, are already covered by their defeat in the third item in this list

Sunderland, currently ninth, play Chelsea at home on the final day, and obviously we have to win that game

But first, we have to win this game

And that’s how tenth-place Chelsea could yet finish sixth, and get in through the most backdooriest backdoor of all backdoors to next year’s Champions League. None of those outcomes are unlikely on their own, but this is like an 8-leg parlay. You multiply the probabilities of independent events to arrive at the total probability of all the events happening, and that final number is likely to be in the single digits.

So, you know, don’t bet your house on it.

Also, first we actually have to a win Premier League game, which we haven’t done in over two months.

Date / Time: Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 20.15 BST; 3:15pm EDT; 12:45am IST (next day)

Venue: Stamford Bridge, SW6

Referee: Stuart Attwell (on pitch), John Brooks (VAR)

Forecast: Thunderstorms throughout the day, but they might clear up by gametime

On TV: Sky Sports Main Event (UK); NBCSN (USA); none (India); SuperSport MaXimo 1 (NGA); elsewhere

Streaming: Sky Go (UK); Peacock (USA); JioHotstar (India); DStv Now (NGA)

Chelsea team news: Robert Sánchez (and his Petr Čech-esque rugby cap), Pedro Neto, and Alejandro Garnacho all returned from injuries to feature in the FA Cup final over the weekend, which means that only longer-term absentees like Estêvão and Jamie Gittens, and young winger Jesse Derry who suffered that scary head injury the other day, are missing in action. Roméo Lavia saw how short our injury was lost getting however, so he’s picked up some random knock once again and is doubtful. Made from that glass, that kid, except it’s just a hologram of glass.

Levi Colwill could also be rested since he’s only just back from a season-long recovery from ACL surgery. He’s made a massive difference in our backline in those games, but there’s little reason to risk any sort of setback at this point of the season.

“[The FA Cup final] shows the level of this group, the quality of this group [but] we haven’t done it on a consistent basis. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be where we are in the league. […] But when this group is at their best, I think we’re up there with anyone in Europe.

“So how do we produce that on a more consistent basis? That’s what we’ll be looking at at the end of the season. That’s what we’ll be trying to help the group with and also they have to want to produce that and they’re capable of doing that. But for now, it’s two games left to get six points hopefully and push up the table as far as we can.”

-Calum McFarlane; source: Football.London

Tottenham Hotspur team news: The most amusing corollary to all this is that Spurs are still not safe from relegation, and if they were to lose their final two games, and West Ham were to pick up three points on Sunday against Leeds United, then Spurs would be relegated for the first time since the late 1970s. They are one of six teams never to have been relegated from the Premier League (born 1992), along with us, Everton, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester United.

Beating Spurs is of course always mandatory, but doing so at this specific point in time is doubly so. Just for the giggles, if nothing else.

They did appoint next year’s head coach already when Roberto De Zerbi relieved Igor Tudor after perhaps the worst Premier League managerial spell ever, and De Zerbi has breathed new life into them with two wins and two draws in his five games in charge. In fact, they’re unbeaten in their last four and have won back-to-back away games, and could be feeling pretty confident about getting their second win in their last 41 visits, since 1990, to Stamford Bridge.

Xavi Simons, Wilson Odobert, Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski, and Cristian Romero are all done for the season with various short- and long-term injuries, while Dom Solanke’s struggling with a hamstring and is doubtful. First-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario could make his comeback after missing the last couple months due to surgery, but Antonín Kinský has done okay in his absence and De Zerbi has hinted that the young Czech Republic international could keep his place.

View from the enemy: Cartilage Free Captain

Previously: A win would mean our third consecutive double over Spurs, which even by this rivalry’s standards would be pretty funny (especially given the state of Chelsea during that time). The reverse fixture earlier this season — when Spurs were actually above Chelsea in the table, if you can believe that — was won by João Pedro of course.

“We need to be careful with Levi. He’s obviously off the back of a very serious injury and has performed well in those two games. We’ll see how he looks today, how he reports, and we’ll make a decision on that.”

“[Lavia] took a slight knock in the build-up to the [last] game. Nothing major, but with Roméo, we didn’t want to take that risk. I thought he was brilliant in the games that he did play, and he gave us a lot the same way Levi did, but we just have to be careful with players that have had that injury history.”

Tottenham were never going to give Chelsea Women an easy time in a Women’s FA Cup quarter-final tie. Even with a fully-packed Kingsmeadow on a sunny Monday afternoon, Spurs weren’t afraid to take us to task whenever we made a misstep in midfield.

The hosts were still the better team on the pitch, much to Spurs’ chagrin. As the first half neared its end it felt we shouldn’t miss the opportunity to get ourselves ahead in the scoreline before heading to the tunnels. Sam Kerr felt the same way and gave us the lead with a header at the 40th minute.

At this point in time we know this Chelsea team have a really hard time holding onto slim leads. It worked tremendously last season. But this year is clearly different.

Hence the collective sigh as Tottenham found the tying goal right after the beginning of the second half via Eveliina Summanen. Not that all was lost, but it’s still a pain we inflict on ourselves seemingly every week.

While we were the better team on the pitch, Spurs couldn’t help but feel emboldened by the equaliser. They smelled victory in their vicinity and went for it with all their might.

Thankfully it just wasn’t meant to be for them. With her first ever Chelsea goal, young defender Veerle Buurman got us the lead and the semi-final spot

Carefree!

Very strong starting lineup today.

Sam Kerr’s still got it.

On to the semi-final!

Next up: Everton away in the Women’s Super League.

KTBFFH!

With Chelsea Women out of contention in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, their focus is now solely on domestic football. Something that should bode well for our Women’s FA Cup defence as only a sequence of miracles would get us anywhere near the Women’s Super League title.

The road to the FA Cup title is simple: win three more games and the trophy is ours for a second consecutive season. But as Tottenham showed to us earlier this season, it’s much easier said than done.

Date / Time: Monday, April 6, 2026, 13:30 BST; 8:30 am EDT

Venue: Kingsmeadow, Kingston upon Thames, UK

Forecast: Sunny with light winds

Referee: Stacey Pearson

On TV: Channel 4, TNT Sports 1 (UK); none (US); elsewhere

Streaming: HBO Max (UK); none (US)

Chelsea team news: You can’t expect to win every tie you’re in. But losing the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final to Arsenal due to abysmal refereeing on both legs will never not hurt.

To shake this loss off, head coach Sonia Bompastor won’t be able to call upon the talents of Johanna Rytting Kaneryd as the Swedish attacker picked up a calf injury during training. We also have bad news with regards to Aggie Beever-Jones and Millie Bright as both English internationals will only be fit after the upcoming international break.

Tottenham team news: Since beating London City to the Women’s FA Cup quarter-finals on penalties at the end of February, Spurs didn’t win a single game in the entirety of March. They still have a large enough cushion where three straight Women’s Super League losses kept them in the competition’s top five.

One obvious absence for this match is AFC Women’s Asian Cup winner Maika Hamano, as she’s on loan from Chelsea and thus not allowed to play against her parent club. Otherwise manager Martin Ho has no injuries to deal with in the short term.

Previously: Keira Walsh gives us the lead and the winning goal at Kingsmeadow.

A Chelsea Women team eager to rebound after losing back to back matches to fellow title contenders. It could have been a recipe for disaster, especially against a Tottenham team who have been fairly competent this season.

While we brought on the early pressure to score, it was the hosts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium who were quicker to finding their foot and threaten an opening goal. It kept Hannah Hampton sharp, with the goalkeeper making a couple of saves to keep us with a fighting chance as we figured out how to get out of our own misgivings on the pitch.

After enduring Tottenham’s barrage of shots, it was time for us to step up. It all eventually clicked on a corner kick where Keira Walsh was free in the area to get the rebound, readjust her step and shoot at goal to get us the 1-0 lead before the half.

It would have been great to not be sitting on the thinnest of margins while heading into the final 45 minutes of play. Alyssa Thompson would quickly sort this out for us by scoring on the rebound after a Sjoeke Nüsken attempt in the box.

Carefree!

It’s pretty much a 4-5-1/4-3-3 with Sjoeke Nüsken, Erin Cuthbert and Keira Walsh in midfield.

Still weird seeing Beth England in a Spurs shirt. Even weirder that she’s their captain!

Hope all is well with captain Millie Bright, who was a late substitution with an apparent injury.

Next up: Liverpool at home in the Women’s Super League.

KTBFFH!

There isn’t a moment in recent times where Chelsea Women most needed a boost like today’s. Facing Tottenham at their big stage is momentous on its own. And to have that game after back to back losses to Arsenal and Manchester City in the Women’s Super League, stakes are even higher.

Nothing else but meeting the occasion. That’s the recipe for our success this afternoon in London.

Tottenham starting eleven:

Kop | A. Nildén, Gaupset, England (c), Holdt, Vinberg, Hunt, Wijk, Summanen, Koga, Blakstad

Substitutes from: Heeps, Jackson, Bartrip, Rybrink, Ahtinen, M. Nildén, Dennis, Gunning-Williams, Tandberg

Chelsea starting lineup (4-3-3?):

Hampton | Carpenter, Bright (c), Girma, Buurman | Nüsken, Walsh, Cuthbert | Thompson, James, Kaneryd

Substitutes from: Peng, Spencer, Potter, Kerr, Shooter, Baltimore, Reiten

Date / Time: Sunday, February 8, 2026, 14.25 BST; 9:25am EST

Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, UK

Referee: Abi Byrne

On TV: BBC Two (UK); none (USA); elsewhere

Streaming: BBC iPlayer (UK); ESPN+ (USA)