During my last visit to London in early April, I attended the Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur clash at Stamford Bridge. I sat beside an overly enthusiastic fan who didn’t stop chanting “Tottenham get battered everywhere they go.” Though Chelsea eventually won the match, thanks to Enzo Fernández’s goal, it was hardly a thrashing—both teams created only a handful of chances, and the victory came by the narrowest of margins.
Fast forward to last night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and the same 1–0 scoreline told a very different story. This time, Chelsea truly dominated. The Blues overwhelmed Spurs for large stretches of the match, and if not for some poor finishing and excellent saves from goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, the scoreline could have been far more emphatic. The result added to Tottenham’s miserable record against Chelsea—just one win in their last 18 meetings across all competitions. It’s a streak that Chelsea fans never tire of seeing continue.
Manager Enzo Maresca’s post-match mood reflected the improved performance. Unlike his more restrained demeanor after the narrow League Cup win over Wolves, he was all smiles this time. His satisfaction stemmed not only from the win but from another clean sheet — something he considers vital for Chelsea’s long-term progress.
“I’m happy with the one-nil and with the three points, especially because we kept the clean sheet,” Maresca said. “That’s something we need for the future. We know we can score goals, but we have to be stronger defensively. The performance was very good, both with and without the ball. Our pressing was key, and like against Liverpool, our off-the-ball work was excellent. If you want to compete at the top, you have to be defensively solid.”
His words underline the growing balance in this Chelsea side. The Blues may still be wasteful in front of goal — converting just one of nearly three expected goals — but the defensive improvements are becoming evident. And as the old saying goes, defense wins championships.
As the Premier League season nears its first third, the table remains tightly packed behind leaders Arsenal, with Chelsea firmly in the mix. If Maresca’s men can maintain their current momentum and tighten up where it matters most, they could soon distance themselves from the chasing pack and make a real push for a top-four finish — and perhaps even keep Arsenal looking over their shoulders as the season unfolds.
