LONDON — Essentially the most chaotic, frenetic and mesmeric recreation of this — and probably any — Premier League season ended with Tottenham Hotspur followers singing tributes to their supervisor, Ange Postecoglou, after dropping 4-1 at dwelling to Chelsea on Monday.
Spurs’ dedication to “Angeball” is absolute, it doesn’t matter what mayhem it delivers. If any sense will be taken from this totally absurd 111 minutes — sure, there have been 21 minutes of added time — it’s that Postecoglou’s insistence on enjoying his means is not going to be compromised by any occasion conceivable throughout the parameters of a soccer match.
Having sat by way of the dour Antonio Conte period wherein Tottenham usually appeared allergic to attacking, supporters on this a part of north London have embraced Postecoglou’s excessive octane, high-wire fashion that had taken them to the highest of the Premier League after ten unbeaten video games.
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It’s, subsequently, troublesome to quibble along with his philosophy given the returns to this point — however this was arguably the perfect and worst of Postecoglou’s fashion encapsulated in a single ludicrous night time, which featured 9 VAR checks, 5 disallowed objectives, two accidents, two crimson playing cards, one hat trick, one penalty and one supervisor booked.
“It’s fairly laborious to course of,” mentioned Postecoglou, who joined Spurs in the summertime. “It’s virtually unimaginable to analyse the sport as a result of it simply appeared to get uncontrolled for big elements of it. Disenchanted by the consequence however actually pleased with the gamers, they gave all the pieces and that’s the constructive we’ll take.”
Dejan Kulusevski opened the scoring in what has now grow to be a customary quick begin by Tottenham, his sixth-minute shot deflected in off Chelsea defender Levi Colwill to spark a stage of pandemonium which didn’t subside all night.
How various things could have been had the Thirteenth-minute strike from Tottenham ahead Heung-Min Son counted. The South Korean deftly side-footed dwelling Brennan Johnson‘s left-wing cross because the cacophony of noise inside this beautiful area threatened to eat Chelsea — however a good offside name accurately went of their favour.
What adopted was a gradual lack of management from Tottenham. Future Udogie was lucky to solely obtain a yellow card for a two-footed problem on Raheem Sterling whereas Cristian Romero was additionally fortunate to flee any kind of sanction for kicking out at Colwill.
Postecoglou additionally received caught up within the feral ambiance. Often an unflustered presence on the sideline, Postecoglou was incensed when the officers flagged for an offside however tried to play a bonus just for Spurs to present the ball away underneath stress. Referee Michael Oliver booked Postecoglou for the supervisor’s first time since he joined the membership.
Sterling had a aim disallowed, as did Moisés Caicedo however within the build-up, VAR noticed Romero’s use of extreme pressure in tackling Enzo Fernández. Romero was despatched off and Chelsea had a spot-kick, which Cole Palmer transformed.
Jackson had one other aim disallowed for offside earlier than Spurs misplaced Micky Van de Ven to a hamstring damage and James Maddison to an ankle drawback. The truth is, after all of the substitutions — and Udogie’s Fifty fifth-minute second yellow for an additional reckless, silly lunge on Sterling — Spurs ended this recreation with solely 4 of their beginning 11 gamers on the sector.
However Tottenham wouldn’t be bowed.
Regardless of having 9 males and a again 4 containing Emerson Royal at left-back and a centre-back pairing of Eric Dier — on his first look of the season — and midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Spurs continued to play with an absurdly excessive defensive position. And regardless of the reply being comparatively easy — ball excessive to attach with a well-timed run — the mixture appeared to flummox Chelsea, who’ve discovered objectives troublesome to come back by this season.
The very fact Spurs lasted so long as they did with 9 gamers, ultimately succumbing to a easy Jackson end from Sterling’s go on 75 minutes, owed to a mix of Chelsea’s lack of cohesion and a few heroic goalkeeping by Guglielmo Vicario, who didn’t deserve to finish the night time conceding 4. However that is a product of Spurs main with their chin, persevering with with a excessive line that allowed Chelsea to attain the identical aim twice extra, the primary assisted by Conor Gallagher, the second by Palmer and each transformed by Jackson.
“It’s simply who we’re, mate,” Postecoglou mentioned. “It’s who we’re and who we shall be for so long as I’m right here. If we go down to 5 males, we could have a go.”
Chelsea’s much-maligned ahead, Jackson, will take confidence from his hat trick on this lopsided consequence, however this was a uniquely absurd set of circumstances that successfully allowed the guests to play an attacking coaching train for the ultimate 35 minutes. The very fact it took Chelsea so lengthy to translate their numerical superiority to the rating line tempers enthusiasm concerning the remaining margin of victory.
The fallout from this could possibly be extreme for Spurs. Van de Ven left the stadium on crutches, Romero is banned for 3 video games and Maddison’s return date is presently unknown.
The final phrase right here ought to go to Mauricio Pochettino. All of the pre-game discuss centered on the ex-Tottenham coach’s emotional return to the workforce he used to handle, however other than a number of offended outbursts as Chelsea laboured to shut this out, this was a satisfying return on an evening that epitomised the wonderful bedlam that’s the Premier League.
“I’m so glad as a result of the three factors means so much for us,” Pochettino mentioned. “We’re in a scenario when we have to win factors. I’m glad to come back again and see individuals I did not get the possibility to say bye too. Most essential for me is the win. It’s Tottenham and it’s not extra particular due to that.”
After a win that eases slightly of the stress on him after Chelsea’s underwhelming begin, he greeted a number of of Tottenham’s teaching workers with a prolonged embrace — none extra so than assistant coach Ryan Mason — earlier than a hug with Son in the course of the pitch he used to name dwelling.
That is Postecoglou’s home now, nonetheless, and if affirmation of that was wanted, the PA system opted for Robbie Williams’ track “Angels” as followers drifted out, the reworked lyrics paying homage to their new supervisor.
Tottenham followers could have misplaced to their bitter rivals however with Pochettino in the home, they’re loving “Massive Ange” as an alternative.
