A Chelsea victory that prolonged the group’s revival below Thomas Tuchel left Tottenham experiencing new lows below Jose Mourinho.
Not since 2012 has Tottenham endured three consecutive Premier League losses. By no means earlier than in his managerial profession has Mourinho misplaced back-to-back house league video games.
Being prime of the league two months in the past is changing into a distant reminiscence for Tottenham after shedding 1-Zero to Mourinho’s former aspect on Thursday.
Tottenham’s poor type was punctuated by the way in which Eric Dier recklessly tripped Timo Werner to concede the penalty, which Jorginho transformed within the 24th minute.
Now it’s Chelsea on the up once more since Frank Lampard was fired 10 days in the past, with two wins and a draw below Tuchel transferring the London membership as much as sixth, 4 factors from Liverpool in fourth place.
Whereas solely a single aim separated the edges, Chelsea managed the sport and averted being unsettled by defender Thiago Silva limping off within the first half.
Chelsea’s Jorginho scores a penalty shot throughout the English Premier League match between Tottenham and Chelsea on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. (Clive Rose/Pool through AP)
“It’s the model the supervisor needs us to play and it has been working nicely,” stated Mason Mount, who was so typically the impetus of Chelsea’s attacking menace. “It’s new, it’s totally different for a few of us gamers. We’re all studying however it’s clearly going nicely up to now.
“It makes it tough for any group we play towards they don’t know what we’re going to be coming with. I’ve been taking part in a bit deeper so being up within the field a little bit bit extra I have to work on my ending.”
Whereas Chelsea’s pursuit of the Champions League locations was given a elevate, Tottenham is slipping away from the highest 4 in a disappointing second season in cost for Mourinho.
Tottenham is seven factors from fourth in eighth place having performed a sport much less, and is sorely lacking the injured Harry Kane, who may return from ankle accidents subsequent week. Tottenham was additionally overwhelmed at its stadium final Thursday by Liverpool, earlier than collapsing at Brighton.
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Maybe the one aid for Mourinho is that supporters stay shut out of the stadium as a result of pandemic so couldn’t vent their irritation on the droop.
Mourinho, although, wasn’t so pessimistic.
“Within the second half we have been totally different, the spirit was totally different, the boldness too,” Mourinho stated. “On the finish the sensation that I’ve is that the group caught collectively till the tip, fought till the tip … and to complete the sport with this constructive spirit helps.”
Nonetheless, the scenario at Spurs appears miles away from the glory days of Mourinho’s two spells at Chelsea when he lifted the Premier League trophy 3 times and turned Stamford Bridge right into a fortress.
Given the group’s present droop, Mourinho will probably be hoping Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is extra affected person than Chelsea proprietor Roman Abramovich.
It was Abramovich’s restlessness that noticed Mourinho fired twice, a part of a managerial carousel at Chelsea that additionally led to Frank Lampard being dismissed final month.
Chelsea had been leaking objectives below Lampard however has but to concede in three video games below Tuchel.
“Each expertise we make is a step ahead if we’re open to study from it,” Tuchel stated.
Tottenham’s toothless efficiency additionally raised questions as to why winger Gareth Bale was left on the bench. Nonetheless, Mourinho wouldn’t say why Bale — again on mortgage at Tottenham from Actual Madrid — is missed so typically.
Mourinho was extra vocal criticizing a penalty that appeared an apparent one given away by Dier.
“It’s a penalty that’s tough to just accept,” Mourinho stated. “So to lose the sport to a penalty like it is a bit painful.”
