Chelsea vs. Tottenham: Both sides claim to be the underdogs ahead of FA Cup semi-final
By George Perry
The four remaining clubs in the FA Cup are among the Premier League’s top six. The top two teams – Chelsea and Tottenham – both claim to be the underdogs in their semi-final clash.
Chelsea and Tottenham are 1-2 in the Premier League. Chelsea have led the league since November but are well off their peak form. Tottenham have won six straight games, but have only one major trophy in the 2000s: the 2007/08 League Cup. Beyond that their history is, well, Spursy.
Both clubs are cherry-picking from their histories past and very recent to make the case that they are the underdogs at Wembley today. Neither wants to carry the weight of expectations. Mauricio Pochettino does not want any of Spurs’ baggage to pervade his players’ psyche. And Antonio Conte is battling to tamp expectations in two competitions in his first season in England.
Conte contrasted Chelsea’s 10th place finish last year with Tottenham’s steady advance towards being a top-four mainstay. Based on last season, Tottenham are performing to expectations while Chelsea are over-achieving. This means the Blues have the coveted underdog status.
"Tottenham must finish being considered underdogs. They are a great power in English football. This is the third year for them working together and it’s the right moment to finish talking about themselves as an underdog and find this excuse. Tottenham is a great team and they are, for the second consecutive year, fighting for the title. – Chelsea FC"
The expectations on Chelsea evolved over the course of the season as the Blues staked their place atop the league. From hoping to qualify for the Champions League to becoming prohibitive favourites to win the Premier League, Chelsea now face a serious mismatch between capabilities and expectations. The Blues are being held to a standard they are still several years from meeting.
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The team is considerably more vulnerable now than they were in the end of 2016. Opponents have figured out how to counter – if not defeat – Antonio Conte’s tactics. Chelsea are without the momentum that comes with clean sheets or having a top striker on form. And, just in the last week, freak injuries and illnesses have knocked players out of the lineup.
Antonio Conte and Mauricio Pochettino both make strong cases for why their respective clubs are the underdog. Chelsea were never supposed to be in this position. Conte definitely does not want to assume the burden of being the favourite, particularly against the team that stopped Chelsea’s win streak.
Mauricio Pochettino knows that every one of his players knows Tottenham’s history in big moments. The fear of joining that infamous legacy will either motivate the Spurs or cause them to collapse under pressure.
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“There is a moment to finish considering yourself an underdog,” Conte said. “This is the right moment.”