Chelsea moved the ball forward, finding Moises Caicedo just inside Tottenham`s half. Without pressure, Chelsea easily switched play to Pedro Neto. Despite a defender nearby, Neto had time and space to look up and spot his teammates, Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson, unmarked. However, Neto`s pass was too strong, and Tottenham narrowly avoided conceding.
But conceding seemed inevitable. A team that neglects defending their back post and appears to have lost the identity their manager was building can`t expect to keep a clean sheet.
Ange Postecoglou`s team might not be defensive giants, but they previously had a clear plan. Tottenham would press opponents intensely and in numbers. While this aggressive approach sometimes allowed shots on goal, the high press was intended to win the ball back in dangerous areas and create better scoring opportunities for Spurs.
When did Tottenham last play with that intensity? Against Chelsea, there was no sign of urgency from a team that had a long break. Chelsea recovered possession in Tottenham`s final third seven times, compared to Tottenham`s four. While Postecoglou previously adjusted his high-pressing style due to injuries earlier in the season, those key defenders are now back in the lineup.
Despite the return of Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Guglielmo Vicario, and Destiny Udogie, Tottenham`s defense still looks disorganized. It`s as if they misunderstand the concept of defensive structure.
Chelsea often gained possession easily due to Tottenham`s errors and faced a slow, uncoordinated defensive setup. They progressed through midfield, where only Rodrigo Bentancur seemed actively involved, and encountered a supposedly first-choice back four.
Tottenham`s defensive issues were evident. Runners went unmarked, and Cole Palmer had freedom to attack. Against a more clinical team, Chelsea could have secured the win much earlier than Enzo Fernandez`s goal from Palmer`s cross. Jadon Sancho had a mixed performance, showing glimpses of threat but also instances where attacks fizzled out.
Tottenham`s defensive weaknesses might be overlooked if their attack was firing on all cylinders as it was earlier in Postecoglou`s tenure. However, their attack has also declined recently. Their expected goals in Premier League games since January rank them low in the league. Before a late save against Heung-min Son, they hadn`t created significant chances to improve this statistic.
Their struggling attack has increased tension between Postecoglou and Tottenham fans. While some fan anger is directed at chairman Daniel Levy, substitutions during the Chelsea game led to negative chants from a section of supporters. When a substituted player scored, Postecoglou responded sarcastically to the away fans.
This incident could become a symbol of Postecoglou`s time at Tottenham, highlighting how initial promise and energy have faded into inconsistent performances. With numerous defeats and poor league positioning, and potential Europa League exit looming if the defense doesn`t improve quickly, Tottenham faces significant challenges.
