The dust has settled, fate has finally caught up with us.
Antonio Conte’s Tottenham side will face Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup. It just had to happen, didn’t it?
Despite Chelsea already having to face their ex-manager in January, they will have to face him again in a cup tie which could see Tuchel to another domestic final. Interestingly, Antonio Conte may be seeking some form of glory in a cup tie against his former club.
The two parties left on quite hostile terms with Conte suing Chelsea football club for wrongful termination.
Might be another battle for the Blues to take, this time on the pitch. And this time, Tottenham may just pull a Conte classic, the kind that Chelsea fans know all too well.
Chelsea’s 2016/17 season saw some of the best counter-attacking football that we have seen in the Roman Abramovich era. You see, I knew that Antonio Conte returning to the Premier League may cause some issues. I am far from a pessimist but I know quality when I see it. Not only does he bring the atmosphere with him, but he also comes with a strategy that works.
Tottenham faced Liverpool last weekend and their patterns of play were extremely reminiscent of the prime Eden Hazard, Diego Costa, and Willian days. Counter attacking football in the finest form. The only difference was that the boys in blue were able to bury their chances and secure the three points whilst the Lilywhites struggled.
Tottenham had six big chances, however, only two were converted to goals. They also acquire a significant XG of 2.56 compared to Liverpool's 1.53, yet the score ended in a 2-2 draw. I find it strange that Spurs missed these big chances. Heung-Min Son could have had a hat-trick within the first half whist Kane could have easily got a brace.
The transition from defence to attack from Conte’s men was ridiculously reminiscent of Chelsea’s Premier League-winning season. The menacing force of Hazard, Costa and Willian assisted with the vision of Cesc Fabregas was every defence's nightmare. With Son and Kane at the hem of their attack, Tottenham could haunt Chelsea’s current form with their old style of play
Could his title-winning style come back to haunt the Blues? I guess we will find out in the next round of the Carabao Cup. Chelsea are set to play Tottenham three times in January with the two-legged Carabao Cup tie and a Premier League tie to end the month.
Tottenham has to prove that appointing Conte was the right choice whilst Conte would want to prove that firing him was the wrong choice for Chelsea.
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