Does the Battle of Stamford Bridge Still Haunt Tottenham?

By Ryan Wrenn | Nov 25, 2016

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 02 : Diego Costa of Chelsea holds his face as he clashes with Mousa Dembele of Tottenham Hotspur during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on May 2, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images) /

The Battle of Stamford Bridge is justifiably remembered as one of the matches of the 2015/16 Premier League season. There’s a narrative thread that connects Tottenham’s current struggles with that match in May.

The fabled battle pitted the London rivals against each other at the end of a season that was shocking — for very different reasons — for both Tottenham and Chelsea.

Chelsea were the defending Premier League champions but struggled to defend their crown. Jose Mourinho was let go midway through the season and the Blues limped to the finish line, far from the title and well outside any chance of competing in Europe in the 2016/17 season.

Tottenham, of course, arrived at Stamford Bridge clinging onto a slim hope that they themselves might succeed Chelsea in winning the title. Mauricio Pochettino’s sophomore season exceeded expectations, with his side fielding one of the best offenses and defenses in Europe. With their primary rivals — Chelsea among them — stumbling, the prospect of a legendary finish was tantalizing.

Harry Kane and Heung-min Son scored goals in the first half. It was a 45 minute stretch that seemed to embody both teams’ seasons. Spurs shut down Chelsea’s routes to goal and split apart a hapless defense to give themselves buffer room for the second half. Chelsea couldn’t connect a string of passes to save their lives and walked off at the interval looking like they’d already lost.

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There was a bite to the match all the same, particularly for Tottenham. They accumulated three yellow cards in the first half, and matters only got worse from there.

A two goal cushion secured, Tottenham lowered the throttle for the second half — and Chelsea grew into the game. Their foothold lost and realizing what was at stake, Tottenham’s composure ruptured. Gary Cahill scored off a corner in the 58th minute. Eden Hazard, lively despite having a profoundly off season, scored the equalizer in the 83rd minute. Tottenham’s players, meanwhile, collected another six yellows — a record nine total.

The result gifted the title to Leicester City. Spurs — deflated, exhausted, exasperated — would lose their final two games of the season, finishing third behind rivals Arsenal.

Pochettino openly admits to having spent the summer exorcising the demons summoned in that unglamorous end to their title hunt. He was unrelenting in his criticism of his players, preferring the method honed by his former coach and mentor Marcelo Bielsa. They were young and still developing, but untimely slumps cannot be shrugged off.

He also recognized that Spurs lacked the strength in depth to prevent key players from exhausting themselves by the end of a long season. The club recruited accordingly, and Pochettino began a process of aggressive pragmatism that, at best, has produced uneven returns.

Injuries and suspensions are also catching up with Tottenham. While last season Pochettino could consistently rely on a strong spine of Hugo Lloris, Toby Alderweireld, Eric Dier, Mousa Dembélé and Harry Kane, all five players have spent time on the sidelines or otherwise looked out of sorts this season.

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Appropriately enough for the youngest team in the Premier League, it’s a process that resembles puberty. Tottenham are undergoing unforeseen growing pains, changes and challenges. The only cure, it would seem, is patience and confidence that they will evolve into a better team through such struggles.

Another meeting with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge might be coming too soon after that initial embarrassment. Add to that that Chelsea have rediscovered their title winning form under Antonio Conte, and Tottenham are in for a difficult match both physically and emotionally.