After being starved of Premier League action during the international break, England’s top flight could hardly return with a more compelling match-up.
Tottenham Hotspur host Chelsea in Saturday’s early kick off, with much of the action centred on the young Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas as he meets his former employers for the first time. The Portuguese gaffer travelled to Stamford Bridge last year keen to exercise his project and footballing philosophy at one of the nation’s biggest clubs, after a year of unprecedented success at FC Porto.
However circumstances worked against the 35-year-old who appeared naive at times in his man-management and team selection. Whether, not given enough control by the board, enough respect by the players or enough time to reshape Chelsea’s team, Villas-Boas’s reputation was tarred by his spell at the Bridge and he is fighting for redemption with Tottenham Hotspur.
A tough start at Tottenham could have proved fatal to the former Porto boss’s chances of ever proving his critics wrong on these isles. Draws at home to West Brom and Norwich were worsened due to an opening day loss against Newcastle United. Some were already keen to write off the Jose Mourinho’s protégé, who had replaced the extremely popular Harry Redknapp who may well have found the London club’s ceiling, in reaching the top four of the Premier League twice and mastering a quarter final appearance in the Champions League.
With the vultures circling, cue a turnaround, which was unexpected and perhaps unwanted in some circles. Since his outburst against the media last term when Chelsea beat Valencia, Villas-Boas has been unpopular on Fleet Street where many find him cold and prickly. Many journalists snarled and smirked on Twitter when this supposed tactical genius used 4-4-2 to save the day against Queens Park Rangers.
Even in victory at Old Trafford, a historic result for the North London team, many still focused on the failings of Rio Ferdinand and co, instead of Spurs’ memorable triumph. Tottenham enter this season-defining, perhaps career-defining match for AVB, off the back of four straight wins in the Premier League and with genuine momentum. The technically sublime Moussa Dembele has transitioned effortlessly into Tottenham’s side and certainly deserves some credit for their recent up-turn, while Villas-Boas’ faith in Jermain Defoe has been repaid with four league goals. Under Redknapp, Defoe played the role of impact sub, with Emanuel Adebayor preferred.
One of the main criticisms launched at Villas-Boas at Chelsea was that he tried to change too much and equally didn’t play to the strengths of the players he had at his disposal. Playing out from the back sometimes had fatal consequences – a John Obi Mikel error against Liverpool quickly comes to mind, while insistence on a pressing game and high defensive line didn’t suit the slowing John Terry.
This doesn’t appear to be the case at Tottenham, where the fast paced attacks that served them so well last year are still a big part of their approach. Their attacking threat still often comes out-wide with the at times unplayable, Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon featuring regularly, Clint Dempsey also appears to suit a high-tempo attack. However such is the fine-line between success and failure, in the over-scrutinised Premier League.
It would not be fair to ignore the transformation under-took at Chelsea since they sacked their youthful manager in March. Under then interim manager Roberto Di Matteo, they achieved an unlikely turnaround against Napoli, after poor team selection and defensive errors had them at a 3-1 deficit before a memorable evening clash at Stamford Bridge.
Even five months removed from Chelsea’s Champions League victory it still seems more fantasy then reality. A mixture of defensive fortitude and great fortune saw Chelsea become champions of Europe a title that owner Roman Abramovich had long been craving. Buoyed by success in Europe’s best competition the Russian once again opened his chequebook and finally Chelsea appear to have overcome the shadow of Mourinho.
The defensively rigid winning machine that twice lifted the Premier League title, is now replaced with a team full of dynamism and flair, as Chelsea seek their fourth Premier League trophy. Summer additions Eden Hazard and Oscar have added pace creativity and sublime skill and along with Villas-Boas’ most successful signing, Juan Mata they form the most exciting attacking midfield in the division.
While Chelsea’s defence in the past 12 months has often resembled an unorganised mess in the absence of their much-maligned captain and the protection John Obi Mikel and Frank Lampard offer it, is often sub-standard. More and more people are tipping the Blues to top the league after a superb start. Outside of a tough assignment away at Arsenal, tomorrow’s game could be considered the first real test for Di Matteo’s men.
After Saturday’s clash we should learn much more about two of the division’s better teams and also their rookie managers.
Follow me on Twitter: @jimmylowson
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