The Athletic FC Podcast The Preview: Spurs vs Chelsea
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Oct 31, 2025 Carl Anka, a football journalist known for his match analysis, and Jay Harris, a tactical football writer, dive into the intense Tottenham vs Chelsea derby. They discuss Spurs' defensive improvements and Chelsea's disciplinary woes, weighing the impact of injuries and suspensions on both teams. The duo also touches on Xavi Simons' adaptation challenges and Chelsea’s recent struggles with creativity. With tactical insights on set-pieces and psychological edges, they predict the match outcomes and explore wider Premier League implications.
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Spurs' Defence First Tradeoff
- Tottenham under Thomas Frank are prioritising defensive solidity but struggle to create chances from open play.
- Key attackers (Solanke, Kulusevski, Madison) being injured magnifies their attacking issues.
Chelsea's Youthful Volatility
- Chelsea are young, inconsistent and surprisingly prone to red cards this season.
- That emotional volatility undermines their structure despite high spending and coaching stability.
Set Pieces Mask Spurs' Creativity Gap
- Spurs rely heavily on set pieces and on goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario to win matches.
- The defence shows improvement under Frank but forward creativity remains limited.