Chelsea Want Europe; Spurs Need Survival | OneFootball

Tottenham can confirm their place in the Premier League with a win over Chelsea in their clash at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night. After West Ham’s 3-1 loss away against Newcastle, Roberto De Zerbi’s side will go into the match two points above the relegation zone with two to play compared to the east London side’s one.

Like Spurs, Chelsea still have much to play for. Because of their loss to Manchester City in the FA Cup final on Saturday, they’ll need to qualify for European football via league position. England’s high coefficient in Europe means five teams will qualify for the Champions League through league position. Sixth and seventh will earn spots for the Europa League and eighth locks in the Conference League.

Chelsea are 10th, three points off of 8th-placed Brentford going into their final games of the season so will most likely need a win if they are to secure European football for next season.

Since losing that cup final Chelsea have now announced Xabi Alonso as their manager for next season, but expecting a bump from a press release is a tall request.

Spurs’ poor form at Stamford Bridge

Tottenham have only won once away against Chelsea in the Premier League, when Dele Alli scored twice in a 3-1 win in 2018. Their most recent victory before that was in the league came in 1986 when Clive Allen scored twice in a 2-0 win.

Roberto De Zerbi explained that Tuesday night’s clash is a new game that will be tough for his side. “Stamford Bridge is difficult,” he said. “It is a tough stadium because the players of Chelsea in this last 20 to 25 seasons have been fantastic.“

“Fantastic players, fantastic managers. But tomorrow is a new game, they played three days ago, two days ago very well. Maybe they didn’t deserve to lose the game. I know a lot of their players and their style is clear. It is a tough game for us for sure.”

Luckily for Spurs, their much superior goal difference means a point would virtually guarantee them a seat in the Premier League barring a 12 goal swing on the final day.

Spurs’ excellent away form

In a season that has been full of poor moments for Spurs, their form away from home has been a shining light. Away from home Spurs have picked up the fourth most points in the league, more than Liverpool, Aston Villa and the same as third-placed Manchester United.  

Contrastingly, only Burnley have earned less points at home from this season than Spurs. 

De Zerbi explained that Spurs will have to play with “confidence” if they are to get a result in their final away game of the season.

“We have to play with confidence because in the last four games, the last five games with me, because we didn’t deserve to lose the game in Sunderland, but in the last four we made eight points andif you analyse the performance, I think we could have earned more points than eight,” De Zerbi added.

“And for that we have to be confident, to be positive. Anyway, we can’t forget the situation one month ago. We are not safe yet, it’s tough in the Premier League.

“Earning one point is tough because all teams fight on the pitch, all teams are very tough to beat. But we have the quality enough and we have to show the quality with the right mentality, the right spirit. I want to see courage on the pitch.”