Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV

Mourinho takes Spurs to Chelsea as top-four battle heats up

by Reuters

LONDON Feb 20, 2020 - 3:57 pm GMT+3
Mourinho watches the pitch during a Champions League match against RB Leipzig, London, Feb. 19, 2020. (Reuters Photo)
Mourinho watches the pitch during a Champions League match against RB Leipzig, London, Feb. 19, 2020. (Reuters Photo)
by Reuters Feb 20, 2020 3:57 pm

Jose Mourinho's return visits to Stamford Bridge have not always been the most cordial but Saturday's clash between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur promises to be especially charged

Since taking over at Tottenham in the wake of Mauricio Pochettino's sacking in November, Jose Mourinho has engineered a revival at the club even if his side's limitations were cruelly exposed in a defeat by RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Yet it is Tottenham's Premier League position, not their Champions League campaign, that Mourinho will be judged on at the end of the season, and Saturday's game gives Spurs a chance to nudge above Chelsea into the top four.

That would be quite a feat. When he took over Tottenham was languishing in the bottom half of the table, 12 points behind Frank Lampard's side.

Tottenham has notched up a three-match winning streak in the Premier League, albeit unconvincingly, featuring a scratchy win over Norwich City followed by fortuitous victories against Manchester City and Aston Villa.

They have been helped too by the faltering form of Chelsea, whose 2-0 defeat by Manchester United on Monday means it has gained only six points from the last 18 on offer and whose home results are of particular concern.

It is not only Tottenham that has closed in. While Mourinho's side is one point behind in fifth, Sheffield United is two behind and Manchester United three.

Wolverhampton Wanderers and a resurgent Everton are also only six points behind fourth place.

Mourinho on Wednesday lamented the strain on his squad, a situation not helped by the long-term absence of Harry Kane and now Son Heung-min who broke his arm in last week's 3-2 win at Villa, a game in which he scored twice.

He also criticized the lunchtime kickoff for Saturday's derby, especially considering his side played Sunday afternoon and then again Wednesday in the Champions League.

Short supply

"The Chelsea players were watching this game on TV, with nice sparkling water, with lemons and biscuits enjoying the game, and we play Saturday at 12 o'clock," Mourinho said when interviewed by BT Sports in the aftermath of the defeat by Leipzig.

"Thanks for the choice. We cannot even sleep well until 10:30 or 11. We have to wake up at 7:30 for the game," he said.

Sympathy will be in short supply across London though, where Chelsea's fans might still be rubbing their eyes in disbelief at the sight of Mourinho, once idolized at Stamford Bridge where he won three Premier League titles, in charge of Tottenham.

If that idea still seems strange, the thought of him leading Tottenham to victory there will be particularly unpalatable.

Chelsea won 2-0 at Tottenham in December with Willian scoring twice and Spurs having Son red-carded.

Another feisty duel can be expected.

While all eyes will be on the London derby, Sheffield United has a chance to maintain the pressure on the two London clubs as it hosts Brighton and Hove Albion, while Manchester United, buoyed by its win at Chelsea, faces Watford on Sunday.

Carlo Ancelotti's Everton, unbeaten in five league games, hosts Arsenal on Sunday.

With Liverpool's title procession likely to continue when they host third from bottom West Ham United on Monday, the battle for second place goes head to head on Saturday.

Manchester City shrugged off its looming UEFA ban by comfortably beating West Ham on Wednesday, moving four points clear of Leicester City, but it will be given a much tougher test of its morale at the King Power Stadium.

Leicester has won only once in five games and suffered a League Cup semifinal defeat by Aston Villa, but Saturday's visit from the reigning champions should re-ignite their spark.

  • shortlink copied
  • RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    sports
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    No Image
    Izmir's famous sun-dried tomatoes paint vivid summer scene
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021