In terms of the narrative of the unfolding 2020/21 Premier League season, the final outcome of this match didn’t provide a tidy storyline.
This fixture presented both sides with an opportunity to anoint themselves as primary challengers to Liverpool’s status as English soccer’s predominant force. An opportunity to make a statement of intent.
What was ultimately produced, however, was a demonstration of how Chelsea and Tottenham, for all the undeniable progress they have made this season, still don’t fully trust themselves. This was a match that concluded with an Edouard Mendy goal kick punted straight out of play by Eric Dier - a depiction of how both sides valued not losing more than winning.
Both teams have been mentioned as potential title challengers, albeit for different reasons. Chelsea’s attack gives them the firepower to outgun any opposition side, while Jose Mourinho has shaped Tottenham Hotspur into one of the Premier League’s best defensive units with the North London side carrying many of the marks associated with the Portuguese’s best teams over the years.
Tanguy Ndombele best embodies the way Spurs have quickly morphed into a quintessential Mourinho outfit, with the Frenchman turning around his career at the club since last season. Ndombele completed four out of five take-ons in the first half, more than double the number of anyone else on the pitch. This illustrates the drive he provided Tottenham with through the middle.
As a double pivot capable on both sides of the ball, Ndombele has emerged as the two-ways central midfielder Mourinho wanted Paul Pogba to be at Manchester United. In fact, a number of Mourinho’s players at Tottenham are upgrades on what he had during his time at Old Trafford.
Sergio Reguilon is what Mourinho wanted Luke Shaw to be, giving Spurs mobility down the left wing. Harry Kane is what he wanted Romelu Lukaku to be, not just giving his team cutting edge in front of goal, but someone to play through in the final third. Lucas Moura is what Mourinho wanted in Ivan Perisic for Manchester United, although the Brazilian didn’t make it off the bench against Chelsea.
Chelsea improved after a passive first half, with Frank Lampard instructing his players to exploit the wide areas in an effort to get in behind the Tottenham defence. This gave the Blues more attacking threat, but even still, Hugo Lloris was rarely called upon. Even when Chelsea were the ones pushing for a winner, the match felt like it was being played on Tottenham’s terms.
There was a similar sense to Spurs’ match against Manchester City last weekend, although the goals arrived in that one. This game won’t feature for long in a Premier League years recap of the 2020/21 season, but Mourinho will be pleased with the framework his team put in place. This should sustain them well over the course of the season.
Lampard, on the other hand, will have more reflection to do on where his Chelsea side can still improve. The Blues boss is getting closer to a first choice lineup, but his midfield unit isn’t offering enough in the way of creativity. Of course, Hakim Ziyech is a creator and was Chelsea’s most imaginative player against Spurs, but far too often the Moroccan was asked to conjure up something out of nothing when a runner from midfield would have opened up space.
In crude terms, Chelsea attacked while Spurs defended, but the Blues weren’t quite as cavalier as many thought they might be this season with so many attacking threats on their books. This was perhaps an indication of how Lampard has learned from his former boss Mourinho, taking lessons on the value of conservatism in a title race.
A point was enough to take Tottenham back to the top of the Premier League table, above Liverpool on goal difference. From that, Mourinho could credibly claim a success from Sunday’s match at Stamford Bridge. No statement of intent was produced by either side, but what we got instead was a statement of how neither side is likely to fall away any time soon.
