Spurs push Chelsea and coach Potter deeper into penury: ‘Having a hard time’
NOS Football–
Chelsea are failing to find their way up the Premier League despite millions in reinforcements in January. The Blues went down 2-0 in the London derby against Tottenham Hotspur. Oliver Skipp and Harry Kane scored the goals.
With only one win in 2023 and a total of 31 points, Chelsea occupies tenth place in the Premier League. Tottenham has 14 more points and is in fourth place, four points ahead of Newcastle United, which has played two fewer games.
Chelsea spent more than 300 million euros in January on the likes of Enzo Fernández, Mychajlo Moedryk and Noni Madueke and the hired João Félix, but points did not yet result from those millions. Coach Graham Potter is under intense fire and even received death threats.
“Just as I have received support, I have also received less nice emails in which they want me to die and my children to die,” the coach, who succeeded Thomas Tuchel in September, said Friday at the press conference ahead of the derby.
Ziyech escapes red
Despite the poor run and the crisis atmosphere, Chelsea took the initiative during the opening stages at the Tottenham Stadium. However, this did not lead to any real chances. The Spurs came closest to a goal in the first half, but a shot by Pierre-Emile Højbjerg hit the post.
Chelsea midfielder Hakim Ziyech escaped just before halftime. The former Ajacied was shown red after handing out a tap during a riot, but referee Stuart Attwell decided to reverse the card after reviewing video footage.
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Hakim Ziyech got red, but card was withdrawn -
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Stuart Attwell reviews video footage -
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Stuart Attwell gives yellow to Hakim Ziyech after all -
EPA
Emerson Royal (second from right) feels his head after a tap from Ziyech
With eleven against eleven and zero against zero, Chelsea made it to halftime, but in the second half it was a quick hit for the Spurs. Oliver Skipp scored after only nineteen seconds. The home team decided the match ten minutes before time. A corner by Heung-min Son fell at the feet of Kane via Eric Dier’s head and the club’s top scorer easily worked in.
The Blues won only from only Crystal Palace so far this year and only recorded two victories in the past 15 league games. Afterwards, Potter again received questions about the increased pressure on his position. “When the results are like that, I accept that,” he said. “We’re struggling and that’s my responsibility.”
