Goals from Eden Hazard, Didier Drogba and Loic Remy was enough for the Blues to run out comfortable 3-0 winners over Spurs. The visitors started the game on the front foot, but were unable to capitalise on their advantage and in the end, the home side showed just why they are front runners for the title as they simply blew them away through sheer determination and ruthlessness in front of goal without ever breaking a sweat.
Here are the major talking points from the game.
Chelsea show plenty of strength in depth
The only way in which it looked as though the Blues were going to drop any points was through injuries and suspensions. Against Spurs, they were without Diego Costa, but such is the quality in the Chelsea ranks, that they barely missed him at all. Didier Drogba started in place of the Spaniard and he showed that age is just a number as he lead the line brilliantly and even had a goal to show for his efforts.
And even when he was substituted, there was no relief for the visitors as on came Loic Remy, who scored a goal and made it 3-0 to the home side. After moaning all of last season about how he didn’t have a striker, Mourinho now has the luxury of three world class strikers to choose from and irrespective of who he chooses, it looks as though it is the right choice and that certainly is an ominous sign for the rest of the League.
Defensive mistakes costs visitors
When Spurs look back on the game, Mauricio Pochettino will not be happy with performances of his defenders, who simply didn’t help their cause at all. For the first goal, Vlad Chiriches a centre back who was played on the right, showed just why he isn’t a full back as both he and Aaron Lennon let their man go and that means Eden Hazard is clean through and has the opportunity to open the scoring.
The second was a mistake by Hugo Lloris that gifted Drogba with his fifth goal from his five starts. And the third was one that showed just why Jan Vertonghen, for all of his attributes is still isn’t a world class centre back.All three goals that Chelsea scored could have been avoided and the problem with Spurs seems to be that irrespective of how good they are going forward, they fail to maintain clean sheets.
A game that exemplified both sides season so far
Once Eden Hazard scored the opening goal, there was an air of inevitability about the result. Not only because of the fact that the Blues have won all of their home games so far this season and are unbeaten in all competitions but also because of the visitors’ poor record at Stamford Bridge, where they haven’t won since 1990. The Blues played like a side who knew that they were going to win and it was only a matter of time before they did.
On the other hand, Spurs’ performance was in a way typical of their season so far. Brilliant going forward but sometimes without the clinical touch that is needed in the box, but at the same time shaky at the back with no real leaders to organize the defence. And while Pochettino would certainly attract plenty of criticism, it is fair to say that his players haven’t given him what he has needed and that has left the club still chasing shadows when it comes to getting closer to a Champions League spot.