Tottenham Hotspur

Ali Speechly
Fan writer

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As the final whistle went at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening and Spurs were left just two points from relegation with one game to go, my friend asked me: "How has it come to this?"

It's a fair question and one that will need answering with brutal honesty this summer, whether we survive the drop or not. This type of season is fast becoming the norm at Tottenham Hotspur and that is simply unacceptable.

Spurs fans will be feeling hard done by. It seems as though our team has been on the wrong end of baffling refereeing decisions and infuriating VAR outcomes all campaign.

The most painful truth, however, is that our team has just not been good enough. As frustrating as some of those key moments and decisions in matches have been, they are not to blame for our ultimate downfall.

As much as the players have not performed well enough, it is the decision-makers in the boardroom who are the real monsters of this horror show. Their consistent incompetence has left us hanging on to our place in the Premier League by a thread, and not for the first time.

This capitulation has been years in the making. Not a sudden fever that takes hold in the night, but more like a post-viral fatigue that you can't quite shake. We have stumbled, disorientated and disorganised into oblivion as the board has made one bad decision after another.

So, it's going right down to the wire on the final day of the season. I am desperate for us to stay up, but my main concern with us surviving is that the board will simply breathe a sigh of relief, and we'll just be subjected to a repeat of this mess next term.

Unless we want to get stuck in this recurring nightmare forever, significant changes are needed in the boardroom and everywhere else.

One way or another, this has to be a summer of transformation at Spurs.

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Tottenham "looked like the Spurs of four weeks ago" in Tuesday's damaging defeat at Chelsea, says former goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

Spurs knew a point would all but guarantee survival but instead they go into their final game at home to Everton with a two-point advantage over third-bottom West Ham, but with the door left ajar for Nuno Espirito Santo's side to escape.

"I was genuinely full of hope," Robinson told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"The record for Spurs going to Stamford Bridge was all against them, but I was thinking in the last four games they are undefeated, two wins, better performances. They were due one but then they were not due one with the way they played.

"First half they lacked the fight, endeavour and belief. They sat back defensively and were passive, allowed Chelsea to have possession. Chelsea didn't have to do a lot to win this game, Tottenham were not how they have been under Roberto de Zerbi.

"He will be disappointed. There has been a gradual improvement under him and you could see he's had time on the training ground. The belief you saw in the players at Aston Villa - you could see the real impact the manager was having with the pressing and intensity and how they were carrying the ball.

"Then the Leeds game happened and I think that damaged them coming into tonight. Fans expected them to win that game and it maybe dented their confidence and belief a little bit coming into this game. They looked like the Spurs of four weeks ago tonight."

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Danny Murphy thinks Tottenham would have "bitted your hand off" a few weeks ago for the scenario they face on Sunday whereby a draw against Everton will all but secure their Premier League status.

Spurs are just two points above West Ham, and if they fail to pick up any points and the Hammers draw or win, then they could go down.

Murphy thinks Roberto de Zerbi's side will be "disappointed" they didn't secure safety when they suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat against Chelsea on Tuesday night.

Speaking on Match of the Day Murphy said: "They showed some resilience, some fight, they did have better energy, they finished the game strongly and they'll be disappointed.

"The overall performance wasn't too bad from Tottenham, they started the game really well, looked really energetic, that goal set them back a little bit.

"It's a big one now at the end of season against Everton.

"The mentality at Tottenham has to be, four or five weeks ago we were written off.

"If you'd said to Tottenham fans and players it's going to go down to the last day and you've got to get a draw or a win at home to Everton, they would have bitten your hand off.

"That's the positivity, you've got to think of it that way.

"The dilemma you have when you know a draw will suffice is that plays on your mind, and you really can't let it.

"They're at home against an Everton side who have petered out a little bit at the end of the season, they've got to be on the front foot and try to win the game, rather than be cautious and protective of that 0-0."

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We asked for your views on Tuesday's game between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur and the relegation threat facing Spurs.

Here are some of your comments:

Matt: Zero creativity and zero quality on the ball. We deserve to be relegated. Even as a life long delusional Spurs fan I have lost hope.

Roger: The lack of quality in the group is massive. They are carrying players like Randal Kolo Muani and Richarlison. The midfield are all the same type, and they always look like coughing up a goal to lose a game. I will be surprised if they survive now as we can't buy a win at home.

Brian: This team is both fragile and quite undisciplined in fundamentals with the ball. Had Tel scored when Spurs were on top, it would have been a very different game. Chelsea scoring first threw Tottenham off their game for a good half hour of playing time. The goal wasn't Kinsky's fault. The swerve was the reason it worked. The defence takes the blame for standing off Enzo. Still have to believe that De Zerbi will get this right but man, the first goal matters with this bunch.

Jez: I've been loving Spurs for over 60 years. Sunday will be the darkest hole I've ever been in if we don't secure Premier League status. Dreading it.

Steve: Muani was appalling … an example of overpaid laziness and cost us a draw. The team were far better when he came off. Please do not start him against Everton.

Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund are battling to sign Brighton and Denmark midfielder Matt O'Riley, with Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi also a fan of the 25-year-old. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

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A foul - or in this case a penalty - can only be awarded if the ball is in play.

If the offence happens before the corner is kicked then the referee can't give a foul, they can only take disciplinary action - in this case a yellow card to Marc Cucurella.

The VAR will then check to make sure the ball has not been kicked while there is foul contact. If the attacker has already been pulled down there is no route for the VAR to initiate a review.

But two weeks ago, Everton were wrongly denied a penalty against Manchester City when Merlin Rohl was dragged the the floor by Bernardo Silva.

The VAR decided the holding had stopped before a corner was taken, but the Premier League's key match incidents panel ruled that to be incorrect.

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

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Tottenham's incentive could not have been greater as they travelled to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea. Premier League survival was in their own hands.

They faced a Chelsea side whose form had been indifferent, and who had just suffered the disappointment of losing the FA Cup final to Manchester City.

Spurs started brightly, but once Chelsea went ahead through Enzo Fernandez there was a lack of urgency until it was too late, namely after Andrey Santos had put them two goals in arrears.

Santos' goal came just as head coach Roberto de Zerbi was about to make three substitutions, including James Maddison, who led lengthy Spurs protests to referee Stuart Attwell at the final whistle.

The point of contention was that penalty incident when Marc Cucurella clearly dragged Micky van de Ven to the floor, but the ruling was that the ball was not yet in play - a decision that infuriated Spurs.

In reality, despite a late flurry, Spurs did not produce enough creation or threat when the stakes were so high.

Now it all rides on Sunday's meeting with Everton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - with Spurs' top-flight status hanging in the balance.

Spurs know a point will almost certainly be enough to keep them in the Premier League, but nerves will be jangling after such poor form at home this season.

Tottenham manager Roberto de Zerbi, speaking to Sky Sports: "We created a first chance to score with [Mathys] Tel. It was a big save for Robert Sanchez.

"Then we concede one great goal because [Enzo] Fernandez, a big player, we could do something better. Then we stay in the game until the second goal, we lost a stupid ball. We conceded a second goal. But before the second goal, we created a big big chance with Richarlison.

"I think we played a very good game. We lost.

"But now is not the time to think too much of this game. We have to prepare the next game. We play in our stadium with our fans. With our qualities, with character, with pride and courage we have to play.

"But I am positive because today, we played a good game."

Spurs midfielder Joao Palhinha, speaking to Sky Sports: "We have to [use the defeat as fuel for final game]. That's the reality. We cannot think too much about the result.

"We more than played well. We needed the result to finish this thing that we have been living for a long time. This team needed a different result today. I think we deserved it.

"It's been a tough season for us with a lot of things happening inside the club. The reality is we have a final on Sunday. We want to keep Tottenham in the Premier League and we will go with everything.

"I don't think I need to speak too much about this game because we wanted to win. I think we deserved more. It's a big frustration.

"We will have Tottenham in the Premier League next season, I don't have any doubt about that because it's where the club belong. Let's go with everything."

Did you know?

• Tottenham have lost 39 Premier League matches against Chelsea, only losing more against Manchester United in the competition (40).

Tottenham's fight to avoid relegation will go to the final day of the season following their defeat at Chelsea.

Spurs know a point against Everton at home on Sunday would be enough to stay up - barring an unrealistic goal difference swing in West Ham's favour.

How are you feeling? Are you worried for Sunday? Or do you think Spurs have enough to stay up based on that performance tonight?

Get in touch with your views here

Chelsea make four changes, with Malo Gusto and Reece James dropping to the bench, while Joao Pedro and Levi Colwill miss out entirely after starting Saturday's FA Cup final defeat by Manchester City.

Josh Acheampong, Andrey Santos, Pedro Neto and Liam Delap come in.

Interim head coach Calum McFarlane also switches to a back four for his final home game in charge.

Tottenham are unchanged for the third game in a row.

Roberto de Zerbi keeps faith in goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, despite Guglielmo Vicario returning. He replaces Brandon Austin as Kinsky's understudy on the bench.

There are two crucial games in the Premier League on Tuesday, with major implications for both the title race and the relegation battle, and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Bournemouth v Manchester City (19:30 BST) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Chelsea v Tottenham (20:15 BST) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Follow all of the action and reaction

You can also listen to today's Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Bournemouth v Man City" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Chelsea v Tottenham".

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Jordan Butler
BBC Sport journalist

Chelsea host bitter London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday with European football, Premier League survival and bragging rights all at stake.

Defeat in the FA Cup final means Chelsea must now regather themselves in the league if they are to have any hope of European football next season. Two wins are likely be enough to clinch eighth and a spot in the Conference League.

The Blues have gone seven games without a top-flight victory (D1, L6) – their worst period of form since a 10-match winless run between December 1994 and February 1995 under former Spurs legend Glenn Hoddle. Incidentally, the final game of that slump was a 1-1 home draw with Tottenham.

An opportunity to play a leading role in the potential relegation of their north London rivals would provide an exciting conclusion to Chelsea's sub-standard season and help banish memories of Saturday's Wembley defeat.

This fixture has been so one-sided down the years that Chelsea fans referred to Tottenham's old ground as 'Three Point Lane' and they have racked up a club record 38 Premier League wins – both home and away – over Tottenham.

They have also not lost a final home league game for 24 years (W16, D7) and that formidable end-of-season record, combined with their head-to-head dominance, suggests the Blues will still be vying for eighth place on the final day of the season.

Spurs almost safe

Spurs are on a timely four-match unbeaten run (W2, D2) and require three more points on Tuesday to guarantee top-flight survival. A draw would also swing the balance heavily in their favour given their superior goal difference when compared to West Ham.

However, the Lilywhites have won just once in 33 Premier League visits to Stamford Bridge. That sole victory occurred during Mauricio Pochettino's reign in April 2018.

But if there is a time to play their London rivals then it could be now. Only title chasing sides Arsenal and Manchester City have taken more points on the road that Tottenham's 26 this season and Chelsea have lost four successive Premier League home games.

Paying the penalty

Spurs have not received a Premier League penalty since the final day of last season. That's almost a year without a spot-kick and that barren, 36-game run appears unlikely to end on Tuesday.

The last time a referee felt inclined to award Tottenham one in a top-flight match at Chelsea was more than 32 years ago, in February 1994. The man in the middle that day awarded them two and in typical 'Spurs at Stamford Bridge' fashion they converted the first and missed the second, allowing Chelsea to score a last-minute penalty of their own to clinch a 4-3 victory.

The Chelsea players will want to impress their new manager Xabi Alonso, who starts on 1 July, but that is not the only reason they will be up for this game.

These two clubs do not like each other very much and Chelsea fans would like nothing more than to beat Tottenham and take their relegation battle to the final day.

Chelsea played pretty well in the FA Cup final despite losing at Wembley - they went with a back three and made it difficult for Manchester City to break them down - and they will have a go at Tottenham here.

But Spurs know they only need a point to stay up after West Ham's defeat by Newcastle and I think they will get it at Stamford Bridge.

Spurs are on a good run of results but they have been playing well too. They look a lot more organised under Roberto de Zerbi and they are definitely capable of getting a draw.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

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Bardi
Fan writer

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Over the last few months we have had hope, lost it and then found it again. Eight points from our last 12 available, combined with West Ham picking up only three, has left us on the verge of rescue. The impossible has become probable. But Spurs fans have been around the block enough times to know you are not safe until you are wrapped in foil and someone has handed you a hot drink.

In real-life rescue situations, it is well documented that the most dangerous moment comes right before safety. It is known as the rescue paradox. The moment safety becomes something you can visualise, complacency creeps in. Emotional exhaustion takes over and, most dangerously of all, protocol begins to disappear.

Everything that got you to the point of rescue is forgotten. The discipline, the focus, the hard work. The moment mountain rescue appears over the horizon, people relax.

Exactly a decade ago, with two games remaining, Tottenham needed just one point to finish above Arsenal for the first time in a generation. After falling short in the title race, ending Arsenal's reign as North London's leading club felt like a worthy consolation prize. But Spurs relaxed. One of the most talented groups of Tottenham players in modern history somehow lost at home to Southampton before collapsing 5-1 away to an already relegated Newcastle side.

We are not safe. West Ham are not down. That has to remain the mentality.

Over the last four games we have shown resilience, discipline and, most importantly, an understanding of our predicament. That cannot change.

This next point may be the biggest of my lifetime. Bigger than any point that secured Champions League qualification. Its impact on the long-term future of the club could be enormous. A point of this magnitude will not simply fall into our lap. It will have to be earned, fought for with the same desperation that brought us the last eight points.

We are not relegated. We are not safe. Between those two realities lies a deep dark chasm.

Find more from Bardi at The Extra Inch - a Spurs podcast, external

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

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Tottenham have won just once at Stamford Bridge since 1990. It is a miserable record, and one Chelsea fans want to continue.

But why does beating Spurs mean so much to so many Chelsea fans? It is a rivalry that dates back more than a century - and includes two relegations and a cup final.

The rivalry's origins date back to 1910, when Tottenham relegated Chelsea from the First Division by beating them on the season's final day.

It was cemented when they met in the first all-London FA Cup final, in front of 100,000 fans at Wembley in 1967.

Author Mark Meehan, who has written books about Chelsea, says: "It's a fan-driven rivalry going back generations and needle has built between fans, rather than being based on geography, like Arsenal versus Spurs."

He added: "It goes back as far as 1910 when Spurs relegated us. The rivalry escalated in the 1967 final because two former Chelsea players, Jimmy Greaves and Terry Venables, helped Tottenham win the cup.

"However, it intensified in 1975 when Eddie McCreadie, who had played for the club in the 1960s and early 1970s, was put in charge. He wanted to show he was as brave off the pitch as on it. He gave the captaincy to a young Ray Wilkins. But sadly, it all ended in relegation, with Spurs playing their part again.

"On the day of fan violence, Spurs won 2-0 a week before the end of the season, and Chelsea would be relegated again. It intensified the rivalry between supporters.

"In more recent times, Chelsea began getting the better of the rivalry to the point I got credited with calling their stadium 'Three Point Lane' in the Chelsea Independent fanzine, though I must admit I don't remember ever doing that."

That folklore explains why, when the iconic Liquidator walk-on music plays at Stamford Bridge before home games, there are chants of "we hate Tottenham" - regardless of whether they are the opposition.