Tottenham could benefit from Chelsea bug

By Ryan Wrenn | Apr 19, 2017

SWANSEA, WALES - APRIL 05: Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino celebrates his team's win during the Premier League match between Swansea City and Tottenham Hotspur at The Liberty Stadium on April 5, 2017 in Swansea, Wales. (Photo by Athena Pictures/Getty Images) /

It’s impossible to ignore a strange new wrinkle in what was already slated to be an interesting meeting between Tottenham and Chelsea on Saturday.

With a chance at the FA Cup final on the line, both teams will be desperate for whatever small advantage they can get. No one at Tottenham would have expected it to be quite so literal however.

In the days following Chelsea’s humiliating defeat to Manchester United on Sunday, it emerged that Antonio Conte’s side were held back by the effects of a particularly debilitating illness. It kept, per the Guardian, Marco Alonso out of the side completely, forced Victor Moses off shortly after half-time and slowed Diego Costa down considerably.

Rumor has it that this mystery ailment might be the result of a team building dinner orchestrated by Conte himself. It’s safe to assume that the irony was lost on precisely no one.

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While such stories present a very convincing excuse to poor play, it doesn’t necessary explain everything.

United, led by former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, played a tactical masterclass to deny their guests any real chances on the day. Indeed, this was the first time in more than a decade of Premier League play that Chelsea failed to register a shot on target.

Add to that the fact that Chelsea were struggling well before they arrived at Old Trafford. Only two weeks prior they were humbled by a scrappy Crystal Palace team.

Tottenham, meanwhile, look hungrier than they have looked in years — and there’s blood in the water. It wouldn’t be a stretch to think that Chelsea’s collective neck might be sore as they continue to glance over their shoulder at Mauricio Pochettino’s team.

Already there are doubts that several key men might miss Saturday’s match. There’s plenty of depth in the Blues’ squad, but with Conte rarely having to rotate this season without European football, the quality of that depth is far from certain.

Pochettino, in contrast, can field a well-rested, strong team highly motivated to get a result after a season of mixed fortunes.

Next: Tottenham must overcome ghosts of Wembley past

Mix together the lingering effects of this illness, a clear blueprint on how to beat Chelsea and acute psychological stress, and Tottenham might think they have a recipe for victory.