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Spurs great is convinced he can do some good to help his former team

Sam Tabuteau

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Former Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld has revealed that he would “do everything in his power” to try to turn things around at Spurs if he were asked to return.

Alderweireld played for Spurs for six years between 2015 and 2021, and was part of the Mauricio Pochettino side that challenged for multiple Premier League titles and reached the 2019 Champions League final.

The Belgian centre-back retired last summer and has watched from afar as Spurs have battled against relegation this season.

Spurs’ success under Pochettino was underscored by a young, ambitious core of players that included Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen, Harry Kane and Heung min-Son, among others.

Alderweireld feels it is this “down-to-earth” culture that Spurs need to lean back into, and he says he would happily come back to advise the club as they look to rebuild over the summer.

“Yeah, for sure [I would return]. It’s up to someone else to decide if I have the qualities and about the right position, but I would do everything in my power,” Alderweireld told The Times.

“I think I have good connections with the fans and the club. I know the club, I played there for six years.

“If Tottenham need help, I’m there, why not? I think the other guys would feel the same. We had a wonderful team at that time, that was our strength.

“If I think about Sonny, Harry Kane, myself, Jan Vertonghen, they were down-to-earth people, good guys. They always put the club number one. Those are the people you want in your club.”

Toby Alderweireld was a recent guest of Spurs for the win over Atletico Madrid

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Alderweireld wants to “really build something” if he is to come back to north London.

Spurs, who could secure Premier League survival with just their second win in 36 years away to Chelsea on Tuesday, are in need of a cultural reset.

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A distinct lack of leadership has been a major issue for Spurs, and Alderweireld admits that captain Cristian Romero, who has served multiple suspensions this season, has not led by example.

“I think he’s an unbelievable player, in moments,” Alderweireld added. “For example, with the red cards, you don’t help your team. When your team needs you, you need to be the captain steering the ship, not putting it in more trouble. He’s a very good player, but he should have done better in some situations.

“For me, centre-backs are players you need to count on, to be flawless, not crazy. Win your battles, be secure, that’s the number one. Long balls, passes between the lines, of course, that’s a plus, but the basic is to be secure.

“A captain has to be aware not to — I don’t say he’s causing trouble — but not to be a risk to himself. I call them trustful leaders. You need to be a calm person.”

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The Irons were far from their best at St James’ Park and trailed 2-0 with less than 20 minutes on the clock after Nuno Espirito Santo’s decision to start in a back-three backfired.

He moved quickly to make changes, withdrawing Jean-Clair Todibo before half-time, but it was too little, too late.

The defeat leaves West Ham 18th in the table, two points adrift of 17th-placed Tottenham, the only other team still in relegation contention. West Ham have one match left to play, at home to Leeds on the final day of the season, while Spurs have two.

The first of those two matches comes on Tuesday night, when Roberto De Zerbi’s side visit Chelsea knowing a win will confirm West Ham’s relegation to the Championship.

As West Ham’s situation grows increasingly precarious, the boffins at Opta have revved up their supercomputer to update their relegation predictions.

The results do not make nice reading for those of a claret persuasion. West Ham’s chances of relegation - in the eyes of Opta - have ballooned to a whopping 93.83 per cent.

Provided Spurs fail to beat Chelsea, the relegation battle will be decided on the final day of the Premier League season. All 20 teams will play simultaneously, with Tottenham and West Ham hosting Everton and Leeds, respectively.

Should Tottenham win at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, West Ham’s relegation will be confirmed, and, subsequently, so too will Tottenham’s safety.

Sport | Football

Chelsea vs Tottenham: Prediction, kick-off time, TV, live stream, team news, h2h results, odds

Spurs able to dodge relegation with a win as Blues look to revive push for European places

Arthur Ferridge

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Your matchday briefing on Chelsea, featuring team news and expert analysis from Dom Smith

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Chelsea host Tottenham on Tuesday in a match which could prove decisive in both the relegation battle and race to qualify for Europe.

There is never a dull day at Chelsea, and they have endured a characteristically busy weekend. The Blues were beaten in the FA Cup final by Manchester City on Saturday, and confirmed the hire of new manager Xabi Alonso on Sunday morning.

Interim boss Calum McFarlane will remain in the dugout for the Blues’ last two matches of the season, though, and will lead the team out for the penultimate time on Tuesday as Chelsea look to revitalise their push to qualify for European football.

The Champions League may now be out of reach, but they could take themselves as high as eighth in the table with a win.

Tottenham, meanwhile, will be keen to keep them from doing so, but that is out of more self-interest than spite. Victory for Spurs on Tuesday will confirm their safety in the Premier League, also condemning West Ham to the drop.

Lose or draw, though, and the relegation battle will rumble into the final day of the campaign.

Date, kick-off time and venue

Chelsea vs Tottenham is scheduled for an 8.15pm BST kick-off on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

The match will take place at Stamford Bridge in west London.

Where to watch Chelsea vs Tottenham

TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage starting at 7pm BST ahead of the 8.15pm kick-off.

Coverage of this match will dovetail with that of Bournemouth vs Manchester City, which kicks off at 7.30pm on Sky Sports Main Event.

Live stream: Sky Sports/TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app/HBO Max app and website.

Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog, with expert analysis from Dom Smith and Sam Tabuteau at the ground.

Chelsea vs Tottenham team news

Chelsea are in relatively good nick coming into this match, with just two players sidelined after the likes of Reece James and Robert Sanchez came back into contention in recent weeks.

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Both absentees are wingers, though, with Estevao and Jamie Gittens both nursing long-term hamstring injuries.

Still sidelined: Estevao

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Tottenham’s injury headaches, meanwhile, are extensive.

There has been some good news recently, with James Maddison coming back into the fold.

Guglielmo Vicario is a doubt for the match as he continues his recovery from hernia surgery, while Dominic Solanke is pushing to be involved after suffering a hamstring injury.

Among the definite absentees are Xavi Simons, who is out for the season. So too are Cristian Romero, Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski, Wilson Odobert and Ben Davies.

Comeback trail: Dominic Solanke

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Chelsea vs Tottenham prediction

A derby clash between Chelsea and Tottenham will never fail to deliver fireworks, and, with safety in the top-flight on the line, this should be no different.

The Blues are wounded after a dismal run of form and their defeat in the FA Cup final, but will love nothing more than to beat Spurs and keep the relegation battle alive.

Whether they can do so is another question entirely. Tottenham are in rejuvenated form and will surely rally for this match.

We expect an all-guns-blazing, action-packed affair, but home advantage might just help Chelsea edge it.

Chelsea to win, 2-1.

Head to head (h2h) history and results

Chelsea have won each of their last five meetings with Tottenham, by an aggregate score of 10-4.

Spurs come into this match desperate for a win, but have won at Stamford Bridge only once in their last 35 attempts in the league.

Chelsea wins: 81

Tottenham wins: 54

Draws: 40

Joao Pedro scored the only goal as Chelsea beat Tottenham in N17 in November

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Chelsea vs Tottenham match odds

Chelsea to win: 10/11

Tottenham to win: 21/10

Draw: 9/4

Odds via Betfair (subject to change).

Tottenham can confirm their safety in the top flight - and relegate West Ham - as early as Tuesday night.

The Irons have been scrapping with Spurs in a two-horse race to dodge relegation for some time, but made a potentially fatal slip-up as they were beaten 3-1 by Newcastle in the penultimate match of their campaign.

Taty Castellanos was West Ham’s sole goalscorer on the day, with his remarkable lobbed effort insufficient to cancel out previous strikes from Nick Woltemade and William Osula.

The result leaves West Ham with just two wins in their last eight Premier League matches as they missed another opportunity to climb out of the drop zone.

And a dreaded first relegation since 2011 could now be confirmed as early as Tuesday night, when Tottenham head across London to face Chelsea.

Tottenham visit Chelsea on Tuesday night. The must-win match will be staged at Stamford Bridge, a ground where they have won only once since 1990.

They come into the match with a game in hand to 18th-placed West Ham, who they now lead in the table by two points.

If Tottenham beat Chelsea on Tuesday, they will move five points clear of the Hammers with one match left to play, thereby condemning the east London outfit to the Championship.

However, if Tottenham and Chelsea draw, the relegation battle will be determined on the final day of the season. Such a result would leave Roberto De Zerbi’s side three points ahead of the final day, when Spurs host Everton and West Ham face Leeds.

If Chelsea come out on top on Tuesday, Tottenham will remain two points ahead of West Ham, again leaving the relegation battle to be decided on the final day of the season.

Spurs boss given plenty of food for thought as critical season finale and summer looms

Sam Tabuteau

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Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Sam Tabuteau

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When Tottenham announced that Guglielmo Vicario would undergo hernia surgery over the March international break, they said that it had been timed to minimise the number of games the Italian goalkeeper would miss.

In a season blighted by injuries, such an admission felt like an attempt to reassure supporters that Spurs’ first-choice ‘keeper would not be out for a prolonged period.

Five games on and Vicario appears no closer to a return to fitness, yet there are few concerns about when or, in fact, if he will play again before the end of the season.

Such has been the form of deputy Antonin Kinsky, Vicario’s absence has not been as sorely felt.

Against Leeds on Monday night, Kinsky pulled off a miraculous save to deny Sean Longstaff what would have undoubtedly been the winning goal deep into added time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

It was a stop that provided a timely reminder of the 23-year-old’s ability and continued to banish the demons of his nightmare performance against Atletico Madrid two months prior.

Kinsky was substituted just 17 minutes into his Champions League debut after two mistakes with the ball at his feet saw Spurs 3-0 down inside the first quarter of an hour at the Metropolitano Stadium.

At the time, former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel said the decision to withdraw Kinsky so early had “killed his career” as he criticised the actions of Spurs’ then interim head coach, Igor Tudor.

However, after some time out of the side, Kinsky has returned to play a pivotal role for Spurs, who, despite the disappointment of their 1-1 draw with Leeds, are on a four-game unbeaten run.

In an interview with Tottenham’s matchday programme ahead of the Leeds game, Kinsky said he was confused and angry after his performance in Madrid.

Night to forget: Guglielmo Vicario replaced Antonin Kinsky after only 17 minutes with Tottenham 3-0 down against Atletico Madrid

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He was determined to identify where he went wrong on the night and meticulously analysed his performance and pre-match warm-up.

The conclusion Kinsky came to, however, was that nothing drastic needed to change.

“You can have a feeling, but sometimes it is also good to watch everything back, or ask someone that you trust to see if they share the same opinion as you, as a learning point,” he said.

Kinsky is from a family with a strong goalkeeping background - his father and grandfather both played the position. So, the Czech international was able to lean on his support network to cut through the emotion of that night in Madrid.

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“That gave me the confidence and the calmness not to change too many things and just to keep going and get ready for my next moment,” he said.

Spurs have improved drastically in defence since Roberto De Zerbi took over, conceding five goals in their last five games. They had conceded 14 goals in the five games prior to De Zerbi taking the reins.

Kinsky has been a huge part of that, working extensively with goalkeeping coaches Fabian Otte and Dean Brill. The trio will sometimes spend up to 40 minutes post-match practising kicking.

Where Vicario leans on his agility and reflexes, Kinsky draws on his strength and power and is often in the gym at Tottenham’s Hotspur Way training ground.

De Zerbi has admitted that he does not know whether Vicario, who has been heavily linked with a return to Italy, will stay at Spurs next season, which means there could be a vacancy for the No1 spot.

Kinsky has proven he can withstand the pressure of being Spurs’ first-choice goalkeeper, and he has given De Zerbi plenty to ponder heading into what will be a busy summer in north London.

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Not A Project CFC believe future relegation battle is possible as they prepare Wembley opposition to BlueCo ownership

Sam Tabuteau

COMMENTS

Your matchday briefing on Chelsea, featuring team news and expert analysis from Dom Smith

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Not A Project CFC, a supporter movement protesting against Chelsea’s ownership, fear the Blues could end up in a similar situation to relegation-threatened Tottenham if things do not change at the club.

There has been a sharp rise in fan dissent towards Chelsea’s BlueCo owners in recent weeks, following the end of Liam Rosenior’s ill-fated spell in charge.

Rosenior was relieved of his duties in late April after only three months, with Chelsea having lost five successive Premier League games without scoring for the first time since 1912.

Just 107 days after succeeding Enzo Maresca, it was widely agreed that Rosenior’s position was untenable. Yet frustration among supporters has only grown in the weeks following his departure.

Brought over from BlueCo sister club Strasbourg on a five-and-a-half-year deal, Rosenior’s struggles were seen as a reflection of the club’s ownership. Chelsea are now looking for their sixth permanent manager in four years.

Supporter protests against BlueCo started against Brentford in January before Chelsea and Strasbourg fans marched together ahead of the 1-0 defeat by Manchester United during the final days of Rosenior’s reign.

Not A Project CFC then hired a ‘BlueCo Out’ truck ahead of Chelsea’s FA Cup semi-final tie against Leeds - Calum McFarlane’s first game back as interim manager.

This weekend, they will march on Wembley ahead of the FA Cup final against Manchester City.

Not A Project CFC are determined to prove that their protests are not a reaction to results on the pitch, and believe that the FA Cup final - a high point in an otherwise dismal season - is the right occasion to get their point across.

“After our last protest, the club spoke about self-reflection. We've had no communication with regard to what the outcome of that self-reflection was, and that's a problem, an ongoing problem with the club, the lack of accountability shown, lack of communication with fans,” a spokesperson for Not A Project CFC told Standard Sport.

Protest: Chelsea fans are unhappy with the running of the club by BlueCo

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“In terms of the protest at the weekend, the coverage of the FA Cup is enormous. We felt that it was too big an occasion (not to stage a protest), and we don't want to give the impression that we only protest when results are bad, because this isn't results-driven.

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“There are a lot of issues at the club. The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust (CST) survey (published in January) showed that there is discontent among the fanbase in lots and lots of different areas - matchday atmosphere, ticketing access, pricing.”

The survey published by the CST, which received 4,000 anonymous responses from their members, cited a lack of confidence in the decision-making and sporting direction of the club. Not A Project CFC say they have “no faith” that the changes wanted will be made.

“As a group, we have entirely lost faith that the club is willing and able to listen and to compromise,” they said.

“When we met with the club director earlier in the year, we put forward some suggestions, we put forward some compromises, we explained that our issue and the fanbase's issue is with the extremities of the model, and we were met with nothing but hubris.”

Chelsea look set to miss out on European football for next term unless they win the FA Cup on Saturday. In a season where they were expected to push on after lifting the Club World Cup last summer, there has been yet more turmoil.

Uncertainty around who will be the club’s next permanent manager, the futures of key players such as Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer, and the implications of recording the biggest pre-tax loss in Premier League history, have left supporters increasingly worried and frustrated.

Not A Project CFC say there are striking parallels to be drawn between the direction of travel at Chelsea and that of their fierce rivals Tottenham, who, 12 months on from lifting the Europa League, are battling against relegation to the second division for the first time in nearly 50 years.

“The sporting directors have to go, it's as simple as that,” they said. “Our ultimate aim would be to highlight to the investors that this project is not working. It has to end now.

“As much as I have found it amusing watching Tottenham Hotspur at times this season, I do agree with the sentiment among our fanbase that that could very easily be us in the next few years. I genuinely believe that relegation is possible for a club like us.

“I thought it was absolutely impossible when BlueCo bought the club, but now I see it as very possible.”

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The former Tottenham chairman was made an CBE at Windsor Castle.

Daniel Levy after an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle (Andrew Matthews/PA)

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Sapphire Hope

Daniel Levy has said “not in a million years” did he see signs during his time as Tottenham Hotspur chairman that the club might end up in a relegation battle.

Speaking to the Press Association at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, Mr Levy said “relegation was not something we ever considered” when he was overseeing the building of the £1 billion Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2019.

Spurs are just two points clear of the drop zone, having secured just 38 points from 36 games so far this season, taking until April 25 to win a league game in 2026.

Daniel Levy after being made a CBE at Windsor Castle (Andrew Matthews/PA)

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Asked how he felt about the club’s league position, he said: “Emptiness… but I’m optimistic that we will remain in the Premier League.”

He answered “never, no, not in a million years” when asked if he saw any signs that club would end up in a relegation scrap.

Despite the team’s poor showing in the league Mr Levy said he would continue attending matches, adding: “It’s in my blood.”

Mr Levy was made a CBE by the Prince of Wales for services to charity and the community in Tottenham, supporting education, health and social inclusion and creating jobs through the construction of the stadium.

“I think Tottenham fans should be proud that the club has made such a fantastic contribution to the local population,” he said.

Daniel Levy chats with the Prince of Wales (Jonathan Brady/PA)

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Having been in charge of Tottenham for 24 years, Mr Levy was the Premier League’s longest-serving chairman, but he was accused by fans of prioritising the club’s business interests over delivering success on the pitch.

Mr Levy said he had hoped to win more silverware during his time in charge: “What I would have hoped for is winning the Premier League, winning the Champions League… easier said than done.”

He said he spoke about Aston Villa with William, who is a long-standing Villa fan, when he received his honour.

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“I thanked him for allowing us (Tottenham) to beat Aston Villa when we played them a few weeks ago,” he said.

“He wished us luck the rest of the season, very much hoping that Tottenham survives in the Premier League.”

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James Maddison has hit out at referee Jarred Gillett after he was not awarded a penalty late on in Tottenham’s 1-1 draw with Leeds.

Maddison went down under challenge from Lukas Nmecha in the penalty area deep into stoppage time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Spurs desperate for a winner that would have seen them propel themselves clear of the relegation zone.

Instead, Gillett told Maddison to get up after he had been felled, pointing for a corner to the hosts.

Replays showed Nmecha getting a slight touch on the ball to dispossess the Spurs attacking midfielder, who was playing his first minutes of the campaign since his return from a year-long injury lay-off.

Now, however, Maddison has come out on social media to explain his side of the story.

Posting to his Instagram story, the England international attached a screengrab of the incident, accompanied by some text.

“For clarity… the small tiny touch on the ball to change direction came from the outside of my right foot, not Nmecha,” Maddison wrote.

“I told the ref that but the check was over in about 20 seconds.

“Officials are petrified to make decisions on pitch now because of VAR. We keep fighting. COYS.”

Had Spurs been given the penalty and scored it, it would have handed Roberto De Zerbi’s side a massive boost in their battle against relegation.

They could have moved four points clear of West Ham, who occupy the final place in the bottom three, with all three points, but their singular share of the spoils means that they are just two points above their rivals with two games left to play.

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Mathys Tel goes from hero to zero against Leeds as home struggles continue, but there are reasons for optimism

Sam Tabuteau

COMMENTS

Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Sam Tabuteau

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

If Tottenham are to be relegated from the Premier League, then they only have themselves to blame.

They were in control and on course to move four points clear of the bottom three against Leeds on Monday night, until a moment of madness from Mathys Tel gifted the visitors a route back into the game.

The French winger had given Spurs the lead with a fine curling effort but soon went from hero to zero, after his ludicrously misjudged clearance, which struck Ethan Ampadu on the head, gave Dominic Calvert-Lewin the chance to level from the penalty spot.

Remarkably, Spurs could count themselves lucky not to have lost the game when Antonin Kinsky superbly tipped Sean Longstaff’s late effort onto the crossbar.

From a position of relative strength, Spurs once again hit the self-destruct button. They have breathed new life into a relegation battle which only looked to be heading one way after West Ham’s stoppage-time equaliser against Arsenal was controversially chalked off by VAR.

Home struggles continue

Roberto De Zerbi has done well to restore belief in his players - the confidence with which the previously chastised Conor Gallagher now plays has been central to an upturn in results - but a mental fragility remains that the Spurs boss needs to address.

In his first two home games in charge, Spurs have coughed up precious points due to defensive lapses, leaving the door open for West Ham to put the pressure back on in the hunt for survival.

Winless at home in the league since December, De Zerbi admits that the pressure of relegation is having an impact on his players’ ability to make calm and concise decisions.

“I think we felt too much pressure,” he said after the Leeds game. “It can happen if you fight relegation, it's different.”

High-profile defensive mistakes from Tel and Kevin Danso, whose loose touch allowed Brighton to snatch a 95th-minute equaliser last month, have seen Spurs squander four points from their last two home games.

Eventful game: Mathys Tel scored for Tottenham against Leeds before giving away a late penalty

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But it is in attack where they are just as guilty of lacking mental clarity, with Richarlison missing a glorious opportunity to double their advantage against Leeds.

Under De Zerbi, Spurs have scored just one more goal (6) than they have conceded. The impact of an attacking injury list that includes Xavi Simons, Wilson Odobert, Dominic Solanke, Mohammed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski has been felt keenly.

Spurs tired as the game wore on against Leeds, with their ailing finishing allowing Daniel Farke’s side to gain encouragement.

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De Zerbi says he is “lucky” to have the players he has at his disposal, but admits there are “too many injuries” and acknowledges that makes it hard for Spurs to sustain pressure on the opposition.

That drop-off in energy feeds into the stands, with Spurs often struggling to wrestle back control of games in the second half as supporters grow frustrated. Spurs had 10 shots in the first half against Leeds without finding the breakthrough.

They started the second half brightly and took the lead in the 50th minute, but then dropped off considerably after Tel’s goal and did not manage another shot on target for the rest of the game.

Having been in control for large periods against both Leeds and Brighton before letting their concentration slip, it is hard to escape the notion that Spurs have the propensity to wilt under the glare of a nervy home support at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

De Zerbi wants his players to relish playing in front of a home crowd, last week describing the “hot” atmosphere inside the stadium as something to be embraced rather than feared.

“60,000 fans to support you, to push you, to stay before the game, during the game, after the game, very close with the players. I think it’s lucky for us,” De Zerbi said in his pre-Leeds press conference.

His side, though, unshackled on the road in recent weeks, remains at the mercy of the anxiety-ridden atmosphere inside Spurs’ one-billion-pound stadium. They have the joint-worst home form in the Premier League alongside relegated Burnley.

Should relegation be decided on the final day of the season, it is hard to argue that home advantage will be a positive factor for Spurs when they host Everton.

Spurs still in driving seat to stay up

Two points clear of 18th-place West Ham with two games to play, De Zerbi’s side are still marginal favourites to beat the drop.

Performances have improved, even if their draw with Leeds has stemmed the tide of optimism, and the return of James Maddison from an anterior cruciate ligament injury has come as a welcome boost.

The 29-year-old was brought off the bench as Spurs chased a late winner against Leeds and nearly capped his first competitive appearance in over a year by winning a penalty in stoppage time.

With Spurs in need of attacking reinforcements, Maddison’s return to fitness could prove crucial. For all the industry and energy they have shown recently, they have lacked a creative spark.

Spurs remain at the mercy of the anxiety-ridden atmosphere inside their one-billion-pound stadium

Spurs remain in control of their destiny, but know they face an unenviable trip to Chelsea - where they have won just once in their last 36 attempts - before hosting an Everton side still in the conversation for Europe.

West Ham, meanwhile, travel to Newcastle this weekend before entertaining Leeds at the London Stadium in their final game of the season.

Had Spurs beaten Leeds on Monday, West Ham would have needed a win against Newcastle to prevent slipping into the Championship.

Now, though, with Spurs not playing again until Tuesday, they will be anxiously looking over their shoulders.

De Zerbi has seen enough to believe that Spurs will stay up, and it is fair to say they have turned a corner in the last four games.

But a missed opportunity has provided fresh impetus for West Ham. Spurs must be careful not to be pipped at the line.

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