If there’s one match Blues fans don’t need geeing up for, it’s playing Spurs.
It’s too sweeping to say that Sunday’s grudge game will determine which London rival will be in the Champions League next season… but it could be a big determining factor.
Five points separate the teams, with Tottenham having a superior goal difference.
Spurs’ run-in is mixed, with away games at Stoke, Brighton, West Brom and Man U, and home ties against Man City, Watford and Leicester.
Realistically, Mauricio Pochettino will be looking for at least 15 points.
Chelsea have home games against West Ham and Liverpool, plus an as-yet unfixed match against Huddersfield, and away games at Southampton, Burnley, Swansea and Newcastle. An optimistic points target of 17 would still leave the Blues short.
However, victory against Spurs on Sunday would narrow the gap and pressure Tottenham. It would also give Chelsea extra incentive to overhaul the north Londoners in the final straight.
The key to the Blues’ final push is restoring a fortress mentality at Stamford Bridge. For some reason, Chelsea are more uptight at home these days.
The team only has two full seasons to go at the old Bridge before the bulldozers move in at the end of May 2020. Victory against Spurs will make the last lap of this season infinitely spicier.
The question is: Who will feel like fools on April 1?
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
