Tottenham and Andre Villas-Boas Prepared for Chelsea Challenge

Andre Villas-Boas – a win over Chelsea would be so satisfying

It’s the ‘Big’ one for Andre Villas-Boas! Tottenham’s Premier League clash with Chelsea is the first meeting between the clubs since Villas-Boas was appointed as Head Coach Tottenham in July, having been sacked from the Chelsea post a few months earlier. The Tottenham manager has tried to keep a low profile ahead of the match, stressing that it’s not about him but rather his team which remains unbeaten since the opening day defeat at Newcastle. The focus, however, will be on the Tottenham manager as he has a point to prove to his former employers at Stamford bridge who removed him after only nine months in the position.

Emotions were still running high when he was appointed at White Hart Lane as Villas-Boas frequently commented on the way he was treated at Chelsea. Having enjoyed such success at Porto he felt that he wasn’t given the time to do the job that he had been brought to the club to complete. His time at Stamford Bridge was not a happy one as problems with players and the media increased as results went against him. For him, a win over Chelsea would be the perfect response to all the criticism that surrounded his time with the club. It would be so satisfying and go some way to ease the hurt that he felt with his dismissal from Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea will be without their captain, John Terry who will be starting the four match ban imposed by the Football Association as the punishment for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand in the match against Queen’s Park Rangers twelve months ago. In previous meetings Terry has so often held the Chelsea defence together that they will miss him but they have the confidence of being undefeated in all competitions this season and being at the top of the Premier League with a four point advantage.

Chelsea have had some good fortune in results against Tottenham in the past couple of seasons – Mata’s ‘goal’ at Wembley turned the match, a last minute goal line clearance to stop Adebayor scoring the winner at White Hart Lane last December and two dubious decisions gifting them goals in their win at Stamford bridge the previous season. They do find it difficult to cope with the pace of Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon but the match will hinge on whether Tottenham can provide a platform of possession for their two wingers to get at the Chelsea full backs. Chelsea are playing a much more fluid game this season so Spurs’ defence will have to be alert to the movement and skill provided by the visitors’ midfield.

Andre Villas-Boas has a number of decisions to make concerning the composition if his team:

• Goalkeeper – Brad Friedel of Hugo Lloris?
• Full back – restore Kyle Naughton at left back, or continue with Jan Vertonghen in that position?
• Striker – Jermain Defoe or Emmanuel Adebayor?

Chelsea have both Frank Lampard and Ryan Bertrand fit after missing England duty and Daniel Sturridge returns.

Andre Villas-Boas has shown a resilience at Tottenham and has displayed great enthusiasm for the club as the season has progressed. He will be backed by every Tottenham supporter in their quest and desire for a Spurs’ win. Last season ended in such an anti-climax for Tottenham as their poor form in the second half of the season saw them fall behind Arsenal and into fourth position in the League only for Chelsea to then take their Champions League place by winning the competition. A win over Chelsea would be so satisfying – but will it happen? Spurs’ home form this season hasn’t been the best so this will be a test for their application and belief.