Tottenham Hotspur

SPURSPLAY

Here’s what he had to say...

How do you sum up the performance?

Roberto: “I think we played a good game. We could score at the beginning of the game with Mathys Tel. We conceded a goal, a great goal of Enzo Fernandez, but I think we could do something better, especially in the second ball, long ball, (Destiny) Udogie. And before to concede the second goal, we could score with Richarlison with a big chance. Anyway, I think we played well. I would like if we play Sunday like the last 20 minutes, because in the last 20 minutes we showed, I think, more energy, more passion, something more inside of us. But it's difficult, it's an opportunity for every one of us, because through this period, these games, these days, we can become better as a coach, as a player if we stay strong until the end, because when you fight for the relegation, you have to stay inside of the league until the last minute of the last game of the season.”

What did you make of the penalty appeals when Micky van de Ven went to ground?

Roberto: “It's not my business now. My focus is to prepare the next game and to make points, because Sunday is the final for Tottenham, not Bilbao against Manchester United. The most important game is Sunday, because last season they played for the trophy, now we play for something more important than the trophy, because the pride, the history of the club, the dignity are more important than the trophy. The trophy you can win, you can lose, nothing changes in your life. You can have one trophy more, but the most important is to keep the dignity, to keep the pride, to go on holiday like this (with heads up), and not like this (with heads down).”

If you play like you did in the last 20 minutes against Everton, will you be okay?

Roberto: “I think for the first 70 minutes we didn’t play badly. We played well. We played a good game, yes, but in the last third of the pitch we made too many mistakes. In the assist, in the last pass, the cross, in the finishing. I think we can show these values also in the last pass.”

Do the players understand the dignity factor that you mentioned?

Roberto: “Very well.”

How do you know?

Roberto: “Because I’m living just for Tottenham. I have lived the last 45 days just for one thing – Tottenham and for my players and I know them very well. Then we can make differences because not everyone is like their team-mate because the character, the level of passion, the level of personality is different because the people are different. But every one of them, they are focused on the target. They are working hard during the week and every one of us wants to achieve the goal.”

How much do you need James Maddison to play on Sunday?

Roberto: “Yes, but James Maddison can’t play more than 20 or 25. I have a medical staff behind me, I am not a doctor, I am not physical coach and I have to follow what they say, no? But I think we can stay up with James and without James.”

Can you understand why fans will be annoyed about the penalty incident, especially after the incident against Leeds?

Roberto: “The fans today have been fantastic, fantastic and we have to say thanks because they were incredible. If we speak about the penalty with Leeds, today we can speak about what you want but we lose focus and we lose energy. My focus is to stay on the pitch, to stay in the best first XI I can decide for Sunday and to transfer what I think about this game, about the football and to prepare in the best way the players. I think we played a final, we played an important game but in our stadium and we have two results out of three, so we have to stay alive but any way, it is a big day for us.”

Going into the game at Stamford Bridge two points ahead of West Ham United and with a much better goal difference, we knew one draw from our final two matches against Chelsea and Everton would pretty much do the job.

But in west London against a Chelsea side without a home win in six games, a goal in each half from Enzo Fernandez and Andrey Santos put the Blues in control and, although Richarlison scored from close range to reduce the deficit, we couldn’t find the goal we craved to level it up and slipped to defeat. One moment of note from the game was Richarlison’s goal – the 2,000th we have scored in our Premier League history.

With so much at stake, we needed a strong start and for the opening stages we were the better team. A defensive error almost gave us the lead when Jorrel Hato’s interception from Pedro Porro’s forward pass flew just past his own post on four minutes before a great chance followed. It was a lovely move as we switched play from left to right, Pedro Porro had time to deliver a deep cross and Mathys Tel sent his header against the post before Chelsea cleared the danger.

The home side’s first real moment of danger came on 14 minutes, Cole Palmer curling towards the far post but Antonin Kinsky made a smart diving save to his right. Just four minutes later though, they were ahead when Fernandez picked up the ball 25 yards from goal, took a touch and hit a right-footed shot which drifted away from Kinsky and hit the back of the net.

The goal lifted Chelsea and their fans as they enjoyed a good spell in the game, with Fernandez almost adding a second on the half-hour mark when his rasping free-kick from down the left side of the area hit the crossbar. We were getting the ball into the final third enough times but couldn’t really make anything count. Tel – who was looking lively down the left – did well on one occasion to work a yard of space on the left corner of the box only to blaze over with his shot. The half ended with Palmer being gifted possession 20 yards out in the centre of the pitch with time and space, but he dragged his effort wide of Kinsky’s post and we went in with work to do.

There wasn’t a great deal of goalmouth action to open the second period and it wasn’t until the 59th minute that a chance was created, Richarlison meeting Pedro Porro’s corner with a clean header but Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez gathered comfortably. That was our first effort on target in the game.

Just when we started to step up the tempo, we conceded again on 67 minutes. Randal Kolo Muani played a square pass on half-way which went straight to Palmer, he played wide to Pedro Neto whose deep cross was touched back into the middle by Fernandez and Andrey Santos was on hand to tap home.

A triple change was made straight after the goal – James Maddison, Pape Matar Sarr and Djed Spence on for Kolo Muani, Joao Palhinha and Destiny Udogie – and we pulled one back almost immediately. Marc Cucurella’s poor clearance was picked up by Pedro Porro, he eventually slid in a low cross which Sarr back-heeled to Richarlison and he tucked home our milestone goal from close range with 16 minutes left.

It was so nearly 2-2 in the 83rd minute, Richarlison and Maddison playing a lovely one-two into the area with the England midfielder in on goal, only for Hato to come across and make a goal-saving block. The final stages were tense as we threw men forward looking for the leveller, Maddison firing well over with a free-kick while Tel had two good opportunities to put dangerous balls into the box but failed to deliver. The final whistle signalled the end of another disappointing night at Stamford Bridge and now all eyes are on Sunday. We still just need a draw against Everton in N17, while the Hammers must beat Leeds United at home to stand any chance of climbing above us in the table.

Line-ups

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez, Acheampong (Chalobah 74), Fofana (Sarr 81), Hato, Cucurella, Caicedo, Andrey Santos, Palmer (Essugo 89), Enzo Fernandez (c), Neto (Garnacho 89), Delap (Mheuka 89). Substitutes (not used): Jorgensen, James, Derry, Kavuma-McQueen.

Spurs (4-2-3-1): Kinsky, Pedro Porro, Danso, van de Ven (c), Udogie (Spence 69), Palhinha (Sarr 69), Bentancur, Kolo Muani (Maddison 69), Gallagher, Tel, Richarlison. Substitutes (not used): Vicario, Dragusin, Souza, Gray, Bissouma, Bergvall.

Match data

Goals: Chelsea – Fernandez 18, Andrey Santos 67; Spurs – Richarlison 74.

Yellow cards: Chelsea – Hato, Cucurella, Delap, Essugo; Spurs – Pedro Porro, van de Ven, Udogie.

Referee: Stuart Attwell.

Venue: Stamford Bridge.

Weather: Light rain, moderate breeze, 14 degrees.

Attendance: 39,463.

Coming with just over 15 minutes left to play at Stamford Bridge, Richy was in the right place at the right time to send home Pape Matar Sarr's inventive back heel and give us new hope having trailed 2-0.

While the goal saw a milestone reached in the competition though, it paled into insignificance as we were unable to find another in the final minutes and take what would have been a very, very valuable point from west London...

Since the establishment of the Premier League back in 1992, we have now scored 2,000 goals in the competition - the fifth side to do so in the history of the league.

We scored our first Premier League goal on 22 August, 1992, with Gordon Durie opening the scoring in a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace at White Hart Lane.

Goal number 500 came nine years later as Les Ferdinand also scored an opener as we drew 1-1 with Aston Villa at Villa Park in December, 2001.

We hit goal number 1000 a decade later with Jermain Defoe on target in a 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion at the Lane in April, 2011.

Our 1,500th goal then came in November, 2018, as Juan Foyth scored his first goal for the Club to see us to a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace.

Richy's strike at the Bridge has now sees us reach the milestone of 2,000 goals scored in the Premier League.

It sees him up to 12 goals for the campaign with 11 of them coming in the Premier League - his joint-best goalscoring campaign for us. He is now on 75 career Premier League goals with 27 them coming for us in 101 appearances.

Roberto De Zerbi has named an unchanged starting side for the third successive game as we face a crunch London derby in our final away game of the campaign.

There is one change amongst our substitutes as the returning Guglielmo Vicario comes in for Brandon Austin.

Starting XI: Kinsky, Danso, Palhinha, Richarlison, Tel, Udogie, Gallagher, Pedro Porro, Bentancur, van de Ven (c), Kolo Muani.

Substitutes: Vicario, Dragusin, Bissouma, Maddison, Gray, Bergvall, Spence, Sarr, Souza.

Here's how the hosts line up tonight...

Starting XI: Sanchez, Acheampong, Fofana, Hato, Cucurella, Caicedo, Andrey Santos, Palmer, Enzo Fernandez (c), Neto, Delap.

The 19-year-old defender, who has shone on loan at Hamburg this season, will be on the plane to the USA, Canada and Mexico for his first major tournament at international level, joining ex-Spurs Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic in his country’s travelling party.

The dynamic centre-back was first called up to Croatia’s senior side in June last year and has four caps to date, including a goal in a 2-1 win over Colombia in March.

Prior to that, he was a regular in the youth international age groups, all the way up to Under-21 level.

Croatia will face England, Panama and Ghana in Group L at the tournament finals.

Congratulations, Luka!

A global football icon who starred for us between 2015 and 2025, scoring 173 goals across 454 appearances and captained us to Europa League glory on that unforgettable night in Bilbao almost a year ago, Sonny continues to support us from across the pond and is rooting for us to get a positive result tonight at Stamford Bridge.

We take the Blues on in the Premier League tonight at a ground where it is well known we have endured a tough run, but Sonny is a player who does hold positive memories from the Bridge, having helped us to a win and three draws there during his time in Lilywhite, while he also scored there in 2016 in a game now coined 'The Battle of the Bridge'.

While the circumstances are different, we once again head to west London in need of a result and we will need to battle to secure it, but our iconic former number seven is full of belief that we can do it, and he'll once again be watching and cheering us on from his new home in Los Angeles, USA.

"The whole season I've been watching Spurs," he revealed in an interview with BBC Sport. "Every single game, watching the results, watching the highlights, watching the games as much as I can.

"Obviously, with the time difference (between London and LA) it is sometimes really difficult to watch the full game. But look, still, Spurs is in my heart, I'm supporting them and I hope they can do that - they can get a good result against Chelsea.

"I'm supporting from the other side of the world. I love them, I love the supporters, I love this club. I'm just sending my best wishes - all the best guys! Come on you Spurs!"

Predict the score | Chelsea vs Spurs

Named in the Austria squad for the tournament by former Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick, Kevin is set to head to his first ever World Cup.

A key part of the squad that secured qualification for the finals which are set to be hosted in the USA, Mexico and Canada this summer, it will be Austria's first World Cup appearance this century with their last game at a World Cup coming at France '98.

Kevin played in all bar two of Austria's qualifying games, going unbeaten across those eight matches while he provided two assists, to help his nation win UEFA qualifying Group H.

Our number four and his side have been drawn into Group J for the tournament and will kick-off their campaign in Santa Clara, California, on 16 June when they will take on Jordan at the Levi's Stadium - home of the San Francisco 49ers.

They will then face tests against Cristian Romero's Argentina (22 June) in Texas and then Algeria (27 June) in Kansas as they aim to progress into the knockout stages.

Congratulations, Kev!

Rob Daly, official club commentator, presenter and pundit

Chelsea’s FA Cup set-up

Interim boss Callum McFarlane surprised many and posed a tough question for Manchester City at Wembley, by lining up 3-4-2-1.

Malo Gusto and Marc Cucurella could play to their attacking tendencies at wing-back while Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez, in support of striker Joao Pedro, drifted wide.

At the heart of defence, Levi Colwill played crucial line-breaking passes in to midfielders Reece James or Moises Caicedo – although the defender’s involvement is not guaranteed after back-to-back starts.

“Yeah, we need to be careful with Levi,” explained interim boss Callum McFarlane of his defender, back from an ACL injury this month.

“He's obviously come in the back of a very serious injury. He's performed well in those two games… we'll see how he reports and we'll make a decision on that. But definitely, I agree, we have to manage him right.”

How much will Chelsea change things?

There are further decisions, with MacFarlane asked about whether Reece James and Joao Pedro came through the FA Cup final okay too.

“With all the players, we have to see how they come back in (Monday)… hopefully it's positive signs today when they report and when they train,” he said.

Romeo Lavia missed it after picking up a knock but, despite the season-ending injury for Brazil winger Estevao too, Chelsea aren’t short of options.

Also, keep an eye out for the Blues’ long throw, with Marc Cucurella’s launch leading to a great chance for Enzo Fernandez to equalise at Wembley – a move plotted by set-piece coach Bernardo Cueva.

“He came up with the idea and saw a weakness that he felt that we could expose and we were unlucky that we didn’t,” said McFarlane.

Familiar faces

Roberto De Zerbi could come up against a number of his former players.

Joao Pedro scored 20 goals for him at Brighton in the 2023/24 season, while Colwill and goalkeeper Robert Sanchez played for him too, but the Spurs Head Coach was pressed about one man in particular.

“I think (Moises) Caicedo now is one of the best midfielders in the world because he’s a complete player, with the ball, without the ball, but also our midfielders are very good – Palhinha, Bentancur, Gallagher and the others Gray, Bissouma, Bergvall, Pape Sarr – and I'm happy because I'm working with my players,” he said.

Midfield is where Spurs are best stocked and we’ll see if Rodrigo Bentancur, Joao Palhinha and Conor Gallagher, the trio to start the last two games, get the nod again.

Spurs selection

Against Leeds, Spurs played slightly higher up the pitch, with Opta’s average positioning showing Richarlison played more as an orthodox number nine, rather than dropping to overload midfield with the three named above.

De Zerbi is still short on attacking options with Dominic Solanke not quite ready – on the injury list with Xavi Simons, Dejan Kulusevski and Wilson Odobert.

It’s more about having options from the bench – with Lucas Bergvall and Djed Spence deployed in attacking roles as introduced subs.

But James Maddison’s cameo against Leeds was extremely encouraging – with Spurs’ number 10, after his 85th minute introduction, desperate to play forward and make things happen, nearly winning a penalty too.

“Once I had my first couple of touches with the ball, it felt like I'd never been away, so that felt good and the crowd gave me so much positivity every time I touched the ball,” he said.

Back in May, 2016, we went to Stamford Bridge knowing we had to beat Chelsea to maintain any hopes of taking Leicester City further in the 2015/16 Premier League title race.

What ensued was a feisty, fiery London derby that had a bit of everything, including countless yellow cards as the passion of the occasion boiled over on both sides – even on the touchline.

Ultimately, we didn’t get the result we needed as a two-goal lead ebbed away and the home side ensured honours ended even at 2-2, handing Leicester the crown.

Nevertheless, it remains an iconic fixture in our modern history because of the will to win on show from players, staff and fans alike – and that’s not lost on legendary former defender Jan, who was back in N17 a couple of months ago to watch us battle out another 2-2 draw, this time with Manchester City.

Speaking at that game, the former Belgium international explained how that trip to Chelsea epitomised our team spirit.

“I think everyone felt like we were their team, the way we played and how we came across as a group of friends,” he said.

“The ‘Battle of the Bridge’, that was not in the end a positive, but at least people saw and felt we gave everything, and that was obviously the most important thing for the fans.”

Pressed on the intensity and passion shown by the players that night, Jan continued: “We did that for each other, and I still get goosebumps if I think about those times.

“People ask me, what's probably your best memory, and whether it's a mistake or not, but I said that game and not the results, but what we stood for as a team. Those 11 or 18 or 20 guys, we would do everything, and I think people loved that.”

We go back to the Bridge on Tuesday night, looking for a positive result to achieve our objective at the other end of the table (8.15pm UK).