On Sky
This Saturday, Chelsea take the short journey to White Hart Lane to take on a Spurs side that are above us in the Premier League table and a Spurs side that have pretensions of making a Premier League title challenge. The clash also throws together Jose Mourinho and Andre Villas-Boas for the first time since they parted company. It`s a fixture that Mourinho will not want to concede any further ground in the title race and one he will be desperate not to lose. Both sides came through Capital One Cup ties in midweek and both approach the game with wins behind them, can Chelsea once again silence the White Hart Lane crowd or will the apprentice get one over the master? By the traditional kick-off time of 15:00 on Saturday, we`ll know one way or another.
Vital Quotes:
As we prepare for the visit to Tottenham, our former boss Andre Villas-Boas has had something to say about our current boss, Jose Mourinho, with Villas-Boas remarking,
‘I was never his number two,’
‘I was part of his staff, but I was never his assistant. That’s one of the reasons we went our separate ways. I thought I could give him a lot more, but he didn’t feel the need to have someone next to him. So I decided to give myself freedom and think about my career, which wasn’t difficult. Yes, there are similarities: Porto, Chelsea. But he has had a lot of success at Chelsea and I didn’t have a good experience there.’
He certainly didn`t, did he!
Spurs Team News:
Andre Villas-Boas made numerous changes for the Capital One Cup tie against Aston Villa, at Villa Park but he is expected to revert to his strongest available line-up for the visit of Chelsea.
The young Portuguese manager is hoping to welcome back Danny Rose from injury but it is expected that Younis Kaboul will still be unavailable due to a muscle problem.
Player to watch: Hugo Lloris
The French keeper is highly rated and with Chelsea creating very few chances, away from home, in the Premier League, the tall keeper could be a stumbling block we have to overcome. Could this match come down to a battle of the keepers`, Cech and Lloris?
Chelsea Team News:
The sickening injury sustained by Marco Van Ginkel, at the County Ground, on Tuesday night rules the young Dutchman out for the remainder of the season. Ramires, who replaced Van Ginkel on Tuesday night, also limped out of the action at the County Ground and Chelsea will be hoping he was taken off as a precautionary measure. Elsewhere, the squad is relatively healthy although we do suspect that Jose Mourinho will make numerous changes to the eleven that started on Tuesday night.
Now whilst it`s virtually impossible to second guess Jose`s selection, would I be far wrong if I predicted the team for the trip to White Hart Lane might very well resemble;-
Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Cole, Mikel, Lampard, Hazard, Oscar, Schurrle, Eto`o
Player to watch: John Terry
Our captain, leader and legend has been something of a mainstay at the heart of the defence, in the Premier League, this season. No doubt John will be subjected to the usual barracking he`s become accustomed to receiving from the Spurs faithful but we`re under no illusions it`ll simply drive him on, I wonder what the odds are of John heading the winner?
Match Facts & Stats
There was a time, not too long ago, when a trip to White Hart Lane was viewed as a guaranteed three points. Chelsea went through a marvelous period where trips produced Chelsea win after Chelsea win. Who can ever forget that day we won 6-1, or the day when a Marcel Desailly header gave us a late, late victory. But, as we`re often told, all good things come to an end and something of a downward spiral occurred. Guus Hiddink, in temporary charge at Chelsea, lost only one game and that was at White Hart Lane. Prior to that, despite Claude Makelele scoring a wonderful goal, Jose Mourinho presided over a 2-1 defeat. But has the trend turned full circle again? Last season Chelsea won 4-2 at White Hart Lane, under the leadership of Roberto Di Matteo. On that day we were simply out-standing, can we repeat that form this Saturday lunchtime?
Incidentally, that 4-2 win last season was, after such a good run at White Hart Lane, our first in seven visits stretching back to August 2005. Harking back to those days when we had the edge over Spurs, Chelsea went 28 Premier League games unbeaten against Spurs but since then we`ve won 5, lost 3 and drawn 6 of the last 14.
Ref Watch:
Our officials for this encounter are:-
Referee – M. Dean
Assistants – J. Collin and J. Brooks
Fourth Official – R. East
Match Prediction:
The office at work is full of Tottenham fans, all week they`ve been chiding me about the result. I`ve given them plenty of verbal chit-chat back but one approached me on Wednesday and asked if I`d be happy with a draw. I smiled and told him in a firm manner – No! White Hart Lane means one thing to me, three points and if we don`t get a victory I`ll have the foulest mood (all weekend) for may a year, because I know what will await me in the office come Monday. But I don`t fear Monday because we`re destined to win this one, just like last year although the margin will not be as wide I think. 2-1 to Chelsea in a nail-biting finish!
Next Fixtures:
In midweek we attempt to get our Champions League campaign back on the rails when we take on Steau Bucharest. As far as the Premier League goes, next weekend we travel to Norfolk to take on Norwich City.