Wild Spurs-Chelsea fracas proves ‘Angeball’ is here to stay

LONDON — The most chaotic, frenetic and mesmeric sport of this — and presumably any — Premier League season ended with Tottenham Hotspur followers singing tributes to their supervisor, Ange Postecoglou, after shedding 4-1 at residence to Chelsea on Monday.

Spurs’ dedication to “Angeball” is absolute, it doesn’t matter what mayhem it delivers. If any sense will be taken from this totally absurd 111 minutes — sure, there have been 21 minutes of added time — it is that Postecoglou’s insistence on taking part in his means is not going to be compromised by any occasion conceivable inside the parameters of a soccer match.

Having sat by way of the dour Antonio Conte period during which Tottenham usually seemed allergic to attacking, supporters on this a part of north London have embraced Postecoglou’s high-octane, high-wire type that had taken them to the highest of the Premier League after 10 unbeaten video games.

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It is, due to this fact, tough to quibble along with his philosophy given the returns to date — however this was arguably the most effective and worst of Postecoglou’s type encapsulated in a single ludicrous night time, which featured 9 VAR checks, 5 disallowed objectives, two accidents, two crimson playing cards, one hat trick, one penalty and one supervisor booked.

“It is pretty hard to process,” mentioned Postecoglou, who joined Spurs in the summertime. “It is almost impossible to analyse the game because it just seemed to get out of control for large parts of it. Disappointed by the result but really proud of the players, they gave everything and that is the positive we will take.”

Dejan Kulusevski opened the scoring in what has now turn into a customary quick begin by Tottenham, his sixth-minute shot deflected in off Chelsea defender Levi Colwill to spark a stage of pandemonium which didn’t subside all night.

How various things might need been had the Thirteenth-minute strike from Tottenham ahead Heung-Min Son counted. The South Korean deftly side-footed residence Brennan Johnson’s left-wing cross because the cacophony of noise inside this beautiful area threatened to devour Chelsea — however a decent offside name accurately went of their favour.

What adopted was a gradual lack of management from Tottenham. Destiny Udogie was lucky to obtain solely a yellow card for a two-footed problem on Raheem Sterling, whereas Cristian Romero was additionally fortunate to escape any kind of sanction for kicking out at Colwill.

Postecoglou additionally obtained caught up within the feral environment. Usually an unflustered presence on the sideline, Postecoglou was incensed when the officers flagged for an offside however tried to play a bonus just for Spurs to give the ball away beneath strain. Referee Michael Oliver booked Postecoglou for the supervisor’s first time since he joined the membership.

Sterling had a purpose disallowed, as did Moisés Caicedo, however within the build-up, VAR noticed Romero’s use of extreme power in tackling Enzo Fernández. Romero was despatched off and Chelsea had a spot-kick, which Cole Palmer transformed.

Jackson had one other purpose disallowed for offside earlier than Spurs misplaced Micky van de Ven to a hamstring harm and James Maddison to an ankle drawback. In truth, after all of the substitutions — and Udogie’s Fifty fifth-minute second yellow for one more reckless, silly lunge on Sterling — Spurs ended this sport with solely 4 of their beginning 11 gamers on the sphere.

But Tottenham wouldn’t be bowed.

Despite having 9 males and a again 4 containing Emerson Royal at left-back and a centre-back pairing of Eric Dier — on his first look of the season — and midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Spurs continued to play with an absurdly excessive line of defense. And regardless of the reply being comparatively easy — ball excessive to join with a well-timed run — the mix appeared to flummox Chelsea, who’ve discovered objectives tough to come by this season.

The truth Spurs lasted so long as they did with 9 gamers, finally succumbing to a easy Jackson end from Sterling’s cross on 75 minutes, owed to a mixture of Chelsea’s lack of cohesion and a few heroic goalkeeping by Guglielmo Vicario, who didn’t deserve to finish the night time conceding 4. But that is a product of Spurs main with their chin, persevering with with a excessive line that allowed Chelsea to rating the identical purpose twice extra, the primary assisted by Conor Gallagher, the second by Palmer and each transformed by Jackson.

“It is just who we are, mate,” Postecoglou mentioned. “It is who we are and who we will be for as long as I am here. If we go down to five men, we will have a go.”

Chelsea’s much-maligned ahead, Jackson, will take confidence from his hat trick on this lopsided outcome, however this was a uniquely absurd set of circumstances that successfully allowed the guests to play an attacking coaching train for the ultimate 35 minutes. The truth it took Chelsea so lengthy to translate their numerical superiority to the rating line tempers enthusiasm concerning the last margin of victory.

The fallout from this may very well be extreme for Spurs. Van de Ven left the stadium on crutches, Romero is banned for 3 video games and Maddison’s return date is presently unknown.

The final phrase here ought to go to Mauricio Pochettino. All the pregame discuss targeted on the ex-Tottenham coach’s emotional return to the workforce he used to handle, however apart from a number of offended outbursts as Chelsea laboured to shut this out, this was a satisfying return on an evening that epitomised the wonderful bedlam that is the Premier League.

“I am so happy because the three points means a lot for us,” Pochettino mentioned. “We are in a situation when we need to win points. I am happy to come back and see people I didn’t get the chance to say bye too. Most important for me is the win. It is Tottenham and it is not more special because of that.”

After a win that eases just a little of the strain on him after Chelsea’s underwhelming begin, he greeted a number of of Tottenham’s teaching workers with a prolonged embrace — none extra so than assistant coach Ryan Mason — earlier than a hug with Son in the course of the pitch he used to name residence.

This is Postecoglou’s home now, nonetheless, and if affirmation of that was wanted, the PA system opted for Robbie Williams’ track “Angels” as followers drifted out, the reworked lyrics paying homage to their new supervisor.

Tottenham followers could have misplaced to their bitter rivals, however with Pochettino in the home, they’re loving “Big Ange” as an alternative.