Tottenham can finally get revenge and kill off Chelsea’s top four hopes… all on April Fools Day
With five points separating Poch’s men in fourth from their West London rivals in fifth, an away victory could rubber stamp European football next season
Sponsored by
THE international break has given Mauricio Pochettino a fortnight to come up with some novel ideas for April Fool’s Day.
It is not usually an occasion that ranks high on a manager’s calendar, especially during the seriousness of a Premier League run-in.
But Sunday, April 1 is all that will be on the Pochettino’s mind at the moment – as that is the day his Tottenham team have the chance to cement their top-four finish and lay a few old ghosts to rest.
For that afternoon his Spurs will travel to Chelsea for what has become one of the top flight’s most eagerly-anticipated top-flight fixtures of the season.
This year will be no different, with five points separating Poch’s men in fourth from their west London rivals in fifth.
An away victory would all but kill off Chelsea’s challenge and rubberstamp Tottenham’s Champions League qualification for a third successive campaign.
Some achievement considering Pochettino and his players - residing at Wembley while the construction of their magnificent new stadium is completed – have been forced to play every game ‘away’ this term.
But coming away from Stamford Bridge with all three points on Sunday week will be no easy task.
SUMMER SHAKE-UP Tottenham, Watford, West Brom, West Ham… the players on the brink of the axe this summer, including Rose and Hart
It has been TWENTY-EIGHT years since Spurs last won there, when Gary Lineker headed in a Nayim cross at the far post to give Terry Venables’ team a 2-1 win on February 10, 1990.
The North Londoners have failed to claim a win at the Bridge since in THIRTY-TWO attempts in all competitions.
Latest Tottenham news
If Pochettino thought his Wembley hoodoo was bad earlier in the season it is nothing compared to his club’s King’s Road one.
Poch has his own painful memories of Chelsea, of course.
It is the place where his team’s title 2016 challenge was ended by a hotly-contested 2-2 draw on a night that infamously became dubbed ‘The Battle of the Bridge’.
The amicable Argentinean knows he Spurs will face as just as much of a fight to get anything this time.
And you would think the absence of Harry Kane – ruled out for at least a month with ankle ligament damage - could not have come at a worse time for Pochettino.
But Spurs showed once again in their comprehensive 3-0 FA Cup quarter-final win at Swansea on Saturday that they have learnt how to thrive without leading scorer.
Kane may give Tottenham a focal point and a cutting edge that gives them a superiority over their rivals.
But his absence gives his team-mates the opportunity to step up out of his shadow and shine. It sounds almost foolish, but Spurs have another dimension when Kane does not play.
Opponents do not know from where danger will strike next.
Christian Eriksen, who netted twice against the Swans, is allowed to become even more influential. Dele Alli is able to get even further forward.
And how many more superlatives can we heap on Heung-min Son, whose performances this season have been even more charming than his personality.
There was a time when you feared for Tottenham without Kane – not anymore.
In fact, his injury could even turn out to be a blessing in disguise for him, Spurs and England.
It means he will go to the World Cup refreshed and Spurs hope that will be after he has returned from his lay-off to help fire them to top-four and FA Cup glory.