RUDI CAN’T FAIL IN DERBYCLASH
Only one Antonio is happy as Blues book spot in final
THE gap between Spurs and Chelsea was looking bigger than ever last night thanks to Antonio Rudiger’s derby goal.
The Blues are back at Wembley for another final and boss Thomas Tuchel is closing in on more silverware after comfortably cruising through the second leg of a one-sided semi-final.
It was another painful dose of reality for Antonio Conte as his Tottenham were outclassed again, unable to feed off the home atmosphere.
It will be Chelsea’s fourth final in Tuchel’s 12-month reign, having won the Champions League and European Super Cup – the only blot on his copybook was losing the FA Cup Final.
Tottenham have now not beaten Chelsea in their last 10 meetings over three years and, from the moment the visitors went ahead after just 18 minutes, the outcome was never in doubt.
Mason Mount floated over a corner, Rudiger was given a free run on goal, Pierluigi Gollini charged out but found himself in no-man’s land, and the ball went in off the Chelsea defender’s back.
Rudiger smiled afterwards: “I just know it hit my head and I was hoping it would go in, and it went in! It was good.
“It is good to help the team and be important. The most important thing for me is to lead by example.”
He is out of contract at the end of the season and there has been much speculation about his future, but he maintains he is happy at Chelsea, adding: “I have enjoyed it so far. It is definitely the best time of my career.”
Chelsea are serial winners while Spurs’ wait for a trophy goes on – it is 14 years since their last piece of silverware, the League Cup in 2008.
Conte’s men were on the wrong end of three VAR calls, saw a goal ruled out and two penalties chalked off – but video technology got it right each time.
The hosts were vulnerable in defence – albeit without the injured Eric Dier – and the midfield was overrun as Mateo Kovacic was outstanding, while the ever-willing Lucas Moura this time could not spark Harry Kane into life.
But Conte must take his share of the blame because he picked blunder keeper Gollini ahead of Spurs’ World Cupwinning captain Hugo Lloris.
Gollini was suspect against League One Morecambe in the FA Cup on Sunday and was horribly at fault for Rudiger’s winner. Conte admitted: “At the end of the two games Chelsea deserved to reach the final, we have to be honest.
“In the second half we created many chances to score and we deserved a result better than losing 1-0.”
Chelsea boss Tuchel added: “I think we started well. We had big chances and controlled the match. We had the lead but I had the feeling we played with fire.
“We allowed chances from easy and sloppy mistakes and were lucky. We almost gave a penalty away for no reason, for a bit of over-confidence.”
The home fans thought they had a penalty when Rudiger brought down Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg but VAR downgraded it to a free-kick, as replays showed first contact was outside the box. The free-kick came to nothing.
Worse was to follow from referee Andre Marriner. Moura charged through after 56 minutes, Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga rushed out and made a perfectly timed sliding tackle. Marriner dropped a clanger, gave a penalty but VAR saved the ref.
VAR inflicted more pain on the hosts as Kane had an effort ruled out as replays showed he was offside before putting the ball in the net.