Tottenham Hotspur Are Finally Giving Fans Reasons to Believe Again
Tottenham Hotspur have given their supporters plenty to be frustrated about this season, but their last three performances have offered some much-needed encouragement.
Roberto De Zerbi's side followed up their first Premier League victory of the season against Coventry City with a memorable 2-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening. Spurs have now lost just once in their last six league matches, and there are finally signs that they could be finding their feet under the Italian manager.
Beating Chelsea away from home is something Tottenham supporters have had little opportunity to celebrate over the years. Yet it was the performance, as much as the result, that made Saturday's victory so encouraging. Spurs looked increasingly comfortable playing De Zerbi's football, and there is reason to believe this could be the beginning of something better.
A Rare But Deserved Victory
Tottenham recorded just their second victory at Stamford Bridge in 36 years, and they did so by taking the game to Chelsea rather than sitting back and hoping for the best.
Spurs looked like a proper De Zerbi side. Players were happy to get on the ball, move it confidently and play through Chelsea's press. Tottenham enjoyed almost 70% possession, completed more than 550 passes and registered 15 shots in what was a superb away performance.
The midfield duo of Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali were excellent, helping Spurs dictate the tempo of the game and giving their attacking players the platform to cause Chelsea problems. There was a clear plan for how Tottenham wanted to play, and they stuck to it.
For a while, though, it looked as though Spurs might leave west London wondering how they had failed to win. Tottenham fans have seen that story play out often enough: plenty of possession, promising spells and chances created, only for the final result to tell a different story. Given their record at Stamford Bridge, the prospect of another frustrating afternoon was hardly far-fetched.
Thankfully for Spurs, the breakthrough finally came in the 77th minute when Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders diverted Fernandes' corner into his own net. Mathys Tel then produced a superb individual finish late on to make sure of the three points.
It was a deserved win, and one Tottenham supporters will enjoy for a long time. But perhaps the most encouraging part was how they earned it. Spurs remained patient, continued to play their football and eventually found a way through. That has not always been the case this season.
Signs of Progress?
The Chelsea result was not an isolated moment, either. Tottenham have shown something different across their last three league outings, with each game presenting a different challenge.
At Manchester United, Spurs found themselves behind and then had Rodrigo Bentancur sent off. It would have been easy for the game to get away from them, but they kept fighting and earned a late point through Dominic Solanke's header. It was the sort of response that Tottenham supporters have wanted to see more often.
Coventry presented a different problem. When Jack Rudoni equalised in the second half, Spurs could have allowed the momentum to swing against them, especially given their torrid home record in recent seasons. Instead, they responded and went on to secure their first league win of the season.
The Chelsea game was different again. Tottenham showed they could control a game away from home. They did not need a late comeback to rescue them from a poor performance. They were calm and composed on the ball, eventually getting the goals their display deserved.
That is what makes this recent run worth taking note of. Spurs have shown they can fight back when things go against them and take control when the game allows it. Three matches do not solve all the problems that have held them back in recent times, but they offer more encouragement than a single good result ever could.
De Zerbi's fiery personality may have a part to play. His teams are expected to be brave on the ball, but that bravery has to come with the determination to compete when possession is lost. Tottenham have started to show both.
The Real Test Starts Now
Tottenham cannot afford to get carried away with one memorable win. Crystal Palace visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before Spurs travel to Leeds United ahead of the November international break, and those two games could tell us much more about where this team is heading.
The question is whether Tottenham can bring the same intensity and patience into those fixtures. Beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge is one thing, but following it up against different opposition is another. Spurs have given themselves something to build on, and they need to prove they can reproduce these performances rather than let them become another brief spell of optimism.
The win at Chelsea was a famous result in its own right. Now Tottenham need to back it up.
