Chelsea vs. Tottenham: 3 things Pochettino must do
One of the drabber encounters Tottenham played this season was against Chelsea at the Lane. What most of us would remember from the game was the score line where neither team scored and also Cesc Fabregas’ rather horrible attempts at finding players as his passes were sprayed all around the field.
With the Premier League title now a distant possibility for Mauricio Pochettino’s men, the Argentine would want his side to put up a great show and ensure that Leicester have to do their bit at least. Chelsea though will want to ensure that they can stop Tottenham’s chances of having a chance of winning the league and the game at the Bridge will have a different atmosphere as Tottenham are the favourites for the three points, something that does not happen too often.
Mauricio Pochettino might have to be shrewd to get the three points as a derby is never easy to win. Beating Chelsea might not be easy but here are three things that Pochettino must get his Spurs side to do if they are to win the game.
Target the centre-backs
Chelsea are without Kurt Zouma but they could also be missing John Terry and Gary Cahill as both as major doubts for the game. That will not bode really well for the Blues as their centre-back pairing could feature players who have never taken to the pitch as a pair.
This would be the best bet for Tottenham to make Chelsea pay. The Blues did lose rather meekly to Manchester City and Swansea before their 4-1 win away at Bournemouth but if the defence is targeted, Tottenham could be the ones who score first.
Play with Son instead of Alli
Whether Alli is punished for his punch in the game against West Brom or not, Tottenham should be thinking of giving another player a chance to play in the middle and that should be Erik Lamela. Although the Argentine is preferred out wide, he should be played down the middle with Son out wide.
The South Korean hasn’t been able to do as well with Tottenham as with Bayer Leverkusen last season. Switching their sides and letting the duo interchange positions at will could be a tactic to employ against a Chelsea team that aren’t doing all that great and this could be just the way to revive Son’s career at White Hart Lane.
Use the fullbacks in attack
Whoever is selected to play as the fullbacks for Tottenham, their pace will be crucial to Tottenham attacking the Blues. Danny Rose and Kyle Walker have been incredible and their work in defence is just as important to the team as their effort in attack.
The pair could be up against Willian and Eden Hazard but the Belgian isn’t someone who does a lot of defensive work and this should mean that either Walker or Rose should take advantage of this and push on and attack the Chelsea fullback as much as possible. Tottenham have a great chance to get the points at the Bridge and that would just make Chelsea’s season probably the worst in their Premier League history.
