will put their Premier League title battle on hold this weekend as they go head to head in an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
Just four points now separate the two sides in the table and Spurs could deal another blow to Chelsea’s campaign by reaching the final for the first time since 1991.
For the vast majority of the season it has looked as though Antonio Conte’s first campaign in English football would end with at least one piece of silverware.
The Blues’ imperious form in the Premier League also made them favourites to go all the way in the FA Cup, but in recent weeks the previously unflappable West Londoners have begun to waver.
Chelsea began the month of April with a 10-point gap over Spurs at the top of the Premier League table, but defeats to Crystal Palace and Manchester United have seen that lead cut to four points with six games of the season still remaining.
It could be the case, then, that Spurs are responsible for ending Chelsea’s hopes on both fronts, although Conte will be reminding his side that they still have the upper hand despite the form book being in Tottenham’s favour.
Chelsea have not lost back-to-back matches for more than a year, but defeat to Spurs could have an even more damaging effect than seeing them crash out of the FA Cup and would certainly ramp up the pressure ahead of tricky fixtures against Southampton and Everton in the league next week.
However, when it comes to stages like today’s Chelsea have the edge in terms of experience – the Blues have won the FA Cup six times since Spurs last lifted the trophy, most recently doing so in 2012.
The coming weeks are sure to test Chelsea’s mettle, but if they are to continue their quest for an eighth FA Cup crown beyond this weekend then they will need their full focus on Wembley and a Tottenham team full of confidence.
Tottenham’s progress under Mauricio Pochettino has been clear to see, but a tangible reward has so far eluded the Argentine since he arrived at the club.
There are plenty of reasons for optimism – a young team bursting with potential have established themselves as the closest challengers for the title in each of the past two seasons in addition to sealing a return to the Champions League.
However, there is nothing quite like a trophy to truly mark progress and, while Tottenham’s hopes in the league look significantly better now than they did at the start of the month, the FA Cup remains their best chance of picking up silverware this season.
It is a trophy that Spurs have not won for 26 years – too long a drought for a club of their calibre. Only Arsenal and Manchester United have won the competition on more occasions than Tottenham’s eight, but the Gunners have lifted the trophy seven times and United have added five more to their tally since Spurs’ last triumph. There are plenty who will make them favourites to finally end that long wait this season, though, as they approach the business end of the competition in scintillating form.
Spurs have won their last eight matches across all competitions and have only been on a better run once in their history – a 13-game streak in 1960. Goals have flown freely in that time too, with Tottenham finding the back of the net 28 times during that spell – including back-to-back 4-0 triumphs in their last two outings.
The last time Spurs failed to win a match was their last game at Wembley, though, and the return to the national stadium will be as much a concern for many fans as the strength of their opposition.
Since beating Chelsea in the 2008 League Cup final Tottenham have won just one of their eight matches at Wembley, drawing two and losing five including two in the Champions League group stages this season.
Pochettino has repeatedly brushed off suggestions of a Wembley hoodoo, but when compared with their White Hart Lane form of 19 wins and two draws from 21 home games this season it is clear that something is amiss when they switch stadiums.
Curse or no curse, it is a problem that Spurs will need to rectify if, as expected, they are to make Wembley their home ground while the new White Hart Lane is being completed next season, and today’s match would be the perfect time for them to do that.
Chelsea represent the first Premier League opposition that Spurs have come up against in this season’s competition, though, having dispatched of Aston Villa, Wycombe Wanderers, Fulham and Millwall in the previous rounds, scoring 15 goals in the process.
Pochettino heaped a little more pressure on Antonio Conte’s men by claiming their wealth of experience makes them favourites today, but he was quick to remind the Blues his own group are on the verge of fulfilling their potential.
“If there is one favourite it’s more Chelsea because they are on the top in the Premier League. Their players and manager have experience,” Pochettino said. “We are talking of the team that maybe in the last five years has won European competitions, a manager that won the league with Juventus in Italy.When you fight the likes of Chelsea, you compare the players and they have players that won World Cups.
“I think it’s a more experienced team than us. Our players have not won much, maybe some players have some titles (with other clubs). But we’re in a good moment too. We’re a hungry team and we’re improving a lot. To challenge this type of club is a very important thing for Tottenham.”
