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Time For Tottenham Hotspur To Make A Statement

By Jonathan Myers

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 15: Antonio Conte the manager / head coach of Tottenham Hotspur at full time of the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 15, 2022 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 15: Antonio Conte the manager / head coach of Tottenham Hotspur at full time of the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 15, 2022 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images) /
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Tottenham Hotspur's Swedish midfielder Dejan Kulusevski (C) celebrates after scoring their fourth goal during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on August 6, 2022. -. (Photo by CHRIS RADBURN/AFP via Getty Images)
Tottenham Hotspur’s Swedish midfielder Dejan Kulusevski (C) celebrates after scoring their fourth goal during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on August 6, 2022. -. (Photo by CHRIS RADBURN/AFP via Getty Images) /

Conceding early to Chelsea may not encourage a fightback as we saw against Southampton.

Our sluggish attacking and reckless defending against Chelsea last season cannot be replicated this season. Spurs need to raise their game to a level above their current heights to demonstrate their overall quality and ability this season.

Conte needs to avoid a tentative approach to the game and put out a team capable of taking the game right to Chelsea, silencing what is a more aggressive atmosphere when Tottenham makes the trip to west London.

Last Saturday proved that Tottenham Hotspur is more than just Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son. That goals and dangerous chances can come from any player at any moment. Tottenham seemed balanced and thoughtful in their play for the first time in several years.

The movement of players off the ball appears to be productive and supportive for the player on the ball. There’s more attacking urgency and intent across the team, as well as a calmness and deeper level of thought to the game around them.

Sunday’s London Derby against Chelsea is an opportunity for Spurs to drive home this point. To showcase these attributes in a far more challenging game, in a far more difficult environment.

One could argue that Tottenham arrives at this fixture with an upper hand in their fitness. Spurs’ pre-season was all about fitness and intensity. Conditioning the team to be able to run and move at a whole new level that we haven’t seen since the Mauricio Pochettino era.

With London set to be at boiling point all weekend, Sunday afternoon’s humidity and heat will likely cause a slower-moving game than what we’re now used to in England. Nevertheless, these Spurs players should be able to cope at a level above their rivals and thrive in these conditions.

Even though it’s game two in a long season that’ll be interrupted by the World Cup, this is the moment in which Tottenham Hotspur have to declare they’re back to being a serious outfit that can demonstrate consistency in their game.

Next. Chelsea a true measuring stick for Tottenham. dark

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