Whereas they emerged from a 4-1 defeat with some credit score left within the financial institution, Monday night time’s London derby could not have gone a lot worse for Tottenham Hotspur.
The opening act was Ange Postecoglou’s exuberant outfit at their swashbuckling finest, and Chelsea regarded set to obtain a thumping on Mauricio Pochettino’s not-so-warm homecoming.
As an alternative, although, ill-discipline and woeful misfortune turned a possible celebration into a night of debating the place the supervisor’s sky-high defensive position landed on the brave/naive continuum. What needs to be stated is that the hosts got here shut on three events to levelling the rating at 1-2 regardless of their two-man drawback.
Anyway, the night time concluded with supporters involved over the membership’s short-term outlook. Postecoglou can be with out Future Udogie for Saturday’s journey to Wolves and Cristian Romero for his or her subsequent three, whereas Micky van Ven appears set for a chronic interval on the sidelines with a hamstring damage.
Better doubt lies over the standing of artistic chief James Maddison, who departed the chaotic bout on the finish of the primary half with an ankle damage.
Maddison’s impression in N17 has been instant, and any sustained absence could be detrimental for Spurs. The Premier League’s August Participant of the Month has notched eight aim contributions in 11 league appearances in the beginning of his profession in north London.
The England worldwide additionally performed a serious function in Tottenham’s opener on Monday night time, along with his sweeping crossfield move to Pape Matar Sarr ultimately resulting in Dejan Kulusevski’s deflected strike. Throughout the opening 11 weeks of the season, no Premier League participant had been concerned in additional shot-creating actions than Maddison, boasting 21 extra contributions than the following most influential participant, Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes.
Nevertheless, Maddison succumbed late within the first half after taking place within the field below no contact, clutching at his ankle earlier than receiving therapy. Whereas Postecoglou stated post-match that it was “too early” to decipher the character of the problem, he hinted that there was a component of precaution concerning his substitution.
“We have been down one man already. It made sense to make a few adjustments at that time,” the Tottenham boss defined. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg changed Maddison and crammed in at centre-half as Spurs performed the remaining 40 minutes with 9 males.
Postecoglou’s post-match feedback would counsel Maddison’s damage is not a serious one, but when he does miss time, Rodrigo Bentancur, who lately returned from an ACL tear, will doubtless be tasked with filling the creator’s boots regardless of his contrasting profile. Giovani Lo Celso would even be an choice.
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