Tottenham’s draw against Leeds United showed there is still plenty of work for Roberto De Zerbi to do before the clash with Chelsea. With the season nearing its end, Spurs will need to improve key areas of their game to give themselves the best chance at Stamford Bridge.
Tottenham Hotspur‘s draw against Leeds United showed that there are still things to improve in their overall play under Roberto De Zerbi. At times they controlled the game and looked comfortable on the ball, but they were not able to keep that control for long enough periods to fully take charge of the match.
Because of that, the game followed a similar pattern where Spurs had strong periods but could not always turn them into clear results. As the season is now reaching its final stage, these moments become more important and there is less room for small drop-offs in performance.
That is why attention now shifts quickly to Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea will be a much harder test. It will not be enough to have good periods in the game, as Spurs will need to stay consistent and focused from start to finish if they want a positive result.
A win against Chelsea would ease that pressure and bring back belief. But to get it, De Zerbi will need to quickly fix these key issues. With that in mind, the focus now turns to the main areas that need to improve before the trip.
Here are five things De Zerbi must address ahead of the game:
Prioritise safety in Spurs’ own defensive box
De Zerbi is known for technical football and building from the back, but there are moments where the simple option is the best one, especially inside the penalty box. Tottenham were reminded of this against Leeds when Mathys Tel tried a bicycle kick clearance inside their own area instead of just heading or clearing the ball normally.
MORE SPURS STORIES
That mistake proved costly as Spurs later conceded a penalty and dropped two important points, which showed how one risky decision in a key area can quickly change the game. It is something they cannot afford to repeat when they face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Because of that, De Zerbi will need to emphasise the importance of safety in these moments and make it clear that their box is not the place for unnecessary risk. The message should be straightforward: when the ball is in their box, the priority must be to clear the danger quickly and safely before anything else is considered.
Solving Tottenham’s right-wing problem to help Pedro Porro
The right side has become a problem for Tottenham because they currently do not have a player who can consistently beat a defender one-on-one. Injuries to Dejan Kulusevski and Mohammed Kudus have made that issue even bigger, leaving De Zerbi without a natural right winger.
Because of that, De Zerbi has had to find different solutions in recent matches, with Randal Kolo Muani often used on the right side. But since Kolo Muani is not a natural dribbler who stays wide and takes on defenders, asking him to play like a traditional winger does not fully suit his strengths.
Instead, it makes more sense for him to drift inside and link play in central areas. That movement can pull defenders out of position and open space on the right side for Pedro Porro to move into and deliver crosses into the box from dangerous areas. If Tottenham can get this working, it could be very important in their upcoming match against Chelsea.
Replicating Tottenham’s high press against Aston Villa
Chelsea are expected to dominate possession and build from the back at home, which means De Zerbi will need a clear plan to disrupt their rhythm early in the game.
That is where Tottenham’s performance against Aston Villa becomes important. In that match, they pressed high with energy and structure, and it stopped Villa from playing out comfortably, which helped Spurs control key moments of the game and at the end gave a better result. Because of that, the same approach can be used against Chelsea.
If Tottenham press in a disciplined way, they can force errors such as rushed clearances or risky passes in deep areas of the pitch. When those mistakes happen, it gives them a chance to win the ball higher up the pitch and create chances quickly, making the press a key part of their plan for this match.
Mathys Tel as Tottenham’s main threat
Mathys Tel is Tottenham’s main attacking threat right now because he is one of the few players who can consistently beat a defender. His dribbling, pace and confidence on the ball make him dangerous when he runs directly at opponents and looks to take them on.
Because of that, De Zerbi should build attacks in a way that puts Tel into isolated situations against the opposition full-back. Tottenham need to move the ball quickly into wide areas so he receives it in space, which allows him to turn and face his defender rather than being crowded out.
When that happens, Tel is able to use his dribbling to drive into the box, create shooting chances or deliver crosses from dangerous areas. If Tottenham can repeat this pattern against Chelsea, it will give them a much stronger and more direct attacking threat.
Using Spurs crosses to get the best out of Richarlison
Richarlison remains one of Tottenham’s biggest physical threats in attack, especially because of his strength in the air. He showed that against Aston Villa when he scored with a strong header, but in the draw against Leeds, Spurs did not put enough quality crosses into the box for him to attack.
Because crosses were limited in that match, Tottenham did not fully use one of Richarlison’s biggest strengths. That is why Roberto De Zerbi should place more focus on using wide areas against Chelsea, especially with players like Pedro Porro capable of delivering dangerous balls into the box.
If Tottenham can recognise the right moments to cross rather than simply playing hopeful long balls, it could give Richarlison more chances to make an impact. Accurate deliveries towards the back post would allow him to use his timing and aerial ability more effectively, which could become an important part of Spurs’ attack at Stamford Bridge.
