1. Spurs’ winless run continues
It is 24 years and 10 months since a Spurs side managed by Terry Venables came away from Stamford Bridge with a 1-2 victory in the old Division One. This latest defeat was their 28th attempt to break that wretched sequence.
Like the last time the north Londoners visited the Bridge, they actually dominated parts of the game but a couple of key mistakes ruined their prospects of claiming their first Premier League victory at their west London rivals.
2. Chelsea players are enjoying the heavy workload
Save for Diego Costa, who was suspended for this game, Chelsea started with the same players who started at Veltins Arena in their 5-0 thrashing of Schalke, those players went on to start in the 0-0 draw at Sunderland last Saturday before starting again in this game.
The Blues showed great appetite to win the game by dominating the last 30 minutes of the first-half after they contained Spurs’ early pressure. After that, they coasted to a 3-0 win with a solid defensive performance.
Mourinho will have to make changes eventually with possible injuries and suspensions – he will be without the suspended Nemanja Matic for the trip to Newcastle this weekend, for example – but the Special One will go with consistency as much as possible because his current starting XI is embracing the hectic period.
3. Mourinho out-thought Pochettino
Mourinho is obviously one of the best managers in the game, but he will enjoy this win because he out-thought Mauricio Pochettino in all the key issues of the game.
Spurs produced their best high pressing game since the Argentine joined Spurs when they defeated Everton 2-1 at White Hart Lane last Sunday but Mourinho correctly anticipated that his opposite number would ditch that aggressive defending so he started with Didier Drogba as the centre-forward.
When Pochettino tried to revert to a high pressing game in the second-half, the Special One introduced Loic Remy to run in behind the visitors’ high defensive line. Both centre forwards were effective as they were perfectly suited for those game situations.
4. Spurs were reminded about the difference between their attack and Chelsea’s
Spurs started the game strongly and dominated possession in the second half but the Blues ended up with three goals and a clean sheet mainly because of their efficiency in the final-third and their ruthlessness in front of goal.
While Spurs missed their chances in the opening exchanges, Chelsea scored with the first good chance they got. Harry Kane flashed his shot across the face of goal when he seized on Gary Cahill’s mistake in possession, but Drogba scored from Hugo Loris’ error.
Eden Hazard scored by trusting his weaker foot but Aaron Lennon chopped back to his stronger right foot in a similar situation and lost the chance to score. Those differences highlighted how superior Chelsea are to their London rivals.
5. Spurs should return to their high pressing game against Crystal Palace
Spurs looked stronger when they pressed for the ball higher up the pitch in the second half and they pinned Chelsea back by hunting in packs. If they stopped a good passing side like Chelsea from getting into anyrhythm with that aggressive approach then they can be more effective against a Palace side at home.
Pochettino could be tempted to take a defensive approach again to protect Vlad Chiriches from dangerous one-on-one situations with Yannick Bolasie if he starts at right-back on Saturday but that risk would be outweighed by the benefits of a positive approach.
