Blues eye Europe as Spurs defeated

CHELSEA 2 TOTTENHAM 0

Tottenham’s Champions League hopes were dealt a damaging blow as they fell to a 2-0 Premier League defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Ange Postecoglou’s side were left trailing fourthplaced Aston Villa by seven points and now have just a single game in hand, as goals from Trevoh Chalobah and Nicolas Jackson saw Mauricio Pochettino emerge victorious against his former club to enhance his team’s own chances of qualifying for Europe.

This was far from Spurs at their fluid, swashbuckling best and rarely did they put serious pressure on a Chelsea backline that had already posted the club’s worst league defensive record in more than 30 years.

Instead, it was Spurs’ rearguard that looked uncertain and frail.

First, Chalobah was afforded a clear run at Conor Gallagher’s cross in the first half as Chelsea stole into a deserved lead, then with 18 minutes to go Son Heung-min and Pierreemile Hojbjerg did little but stand and watch as Jackson pounced when Cole Palmer’s 30-yard freekick thudded off the underside of the crossbar. Chelsea climbed to eighth, their highest position since Pochettino was appointed in July and with realistic hope of reaching the Europa League – but Tottenham’s top-four ambition now looks increasingly unlikely.

And Pochettino used the safety net of three points against his former club to make what could be viewed as an appeal to the club’s decision makers to show renewed faith.

He told Sky Sports: “Maybe today because we won I can explain a little bit better. I want to say enough is enough, I think all managers need time to translate their ideas and their philosophy. We need to have time, but it is not my decision.”

Asked to expand, he added: “I don’t know. It’s difficult to see every single week that I am under scrutiny and judgement. Yes, it’s not my decision to be here or not to be here.”

As to whether he could transform Chelsea into serious title contenders or a Champions League force if he was backed, the Argentinean doubled down.

“I cannot tell you. I can say nothing. If we want to match the history of Chelsea I think there is a lot of work to do. We will see if we have time to build this way,” he said.