Chelsea facing only forward

Tottenham 2 Chelsea 4

The ancient Roman God — who gave his name to the month of January — could famously see the past and the future at the same time; and he must have a smile on his face at Stamford Bridge.

The European champions were accused of being hypocrites for the way they refused to strip John Terry of the captaincy last week, despite a previously stoic and vociferous approach to dealing with racism; but being two-faced can have its advantages.

In Roman mythology, Janus, normally portrayed by a double-faced bust looking in opposite directions, frequently symbolised the transition from past to future, from one vision to another and from youth to maturity.

All of those were in evidence at White Hart Lane on Saturday as Chelsea, without Terry and with his erstwhile deputy Frank Lampard on the bench, produced a performance of quality and character that suggests they are not only serious title contenders but possible favourites for the crown.

The need for a smooth transition is why Terry has not been discarded just yet; manager Roberto Di Matteo may crave a new style for his team but he also wants the character and winning spirit of the old guard to be ported into the future.

Terry, for all his faults, remains the very personification of that spirit and will continue to play an important part; but if Chelsea perform as they did on Saturday during the remainder of his four-match ban then you have to wonder just how much his influence will wane. Almost certainly the days of Terry ‘managing’ Chelsea from the training ground are gone; and perhaps that is healthy.

The reason Di Matteo can do that — and Andre Villas-Boas before him could not — is the arrival of Oscar and Eden Hazard who, together with Juan Mata, now form a remarkably mobile and exciting midfield trio anchored by an improving Mikel. All those four players were outstanding in a 4-2 victory that featured two goals from Mata, a wonderful assist from Hazard, an outstanding contribution from Oscar and perhaps his best performance in a Chelsea shirt from Mikel.

Chelsea took an early lead through a fiercely-struck volley from Terry’s replacement Gary Cahill after 17 minutes but found themselves 2-1 down thanks to a wobbly 10 minutes after half-time in which William Gallas and Jermain Defoe both scored for the home side.

But if there were any fears that Chelsea’s character had been lost along with their captain, Spurs were quickly informed otherwise as two wonderful goals from Mata — the second from a glorious Hazard pass — and a last-minute fourth from substitute Sturridge completed a hugely encouraging victory.

“We had different players last season and we had to play differently to get the best out of our team,” said Di Matteo looking back on his famously artisan side of 2012 and ahead to the artistic side of 2013. “I liked my team last year as well and I enjoy watching them this season. What has changed is our attitude. We go away and play with the same attitude we have at home, so we take the initiative, we don’t just give it to the opposition.

“The players have bought into this little change we have, with the integration of the new players and who knows where this is going to take us.”

The signs are that it will take Chelsea a long way, especially if the inspirational Mata remains in such majestic form; and with Manchester United next up, at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, there is already talk of the title in west London.

“It is still early, but we have started really well,” said Mata, who also suggested Chelsea’s football this season is ‘more enjoyable’.

“Beating Tottenham was a good start before playing Man United and Shakhtar Dontesk this week — now we have to take advantage of this moment. I think the next two months will decide. It always does in November and in December; you have a lot of games so we have to keep fighting for the title in those two months.”

As for John Terry, his manager insists he won’t be given an ‘extended’ rest and his team-mates remain supportive.

“For me he is always a legend,” said Mata. “I am really good with him, happy to train and play games with him. He is a really good guy.”

Tottenham could certainly have done with a defender of Terry’s quality on a day when William Gallas had an afternoon to forget — his poor clearances led to goals for both Cahill and Mata — while manager Villas-Boas also bemoaned the absence of the injured Gareth Bale. But he was man enough to admire the improvements made by his replacement at Stamford Bridge.

So for all the controversy, uproar and negative headlines it’s looking pretty good for Roberto Di Matteo right now.

Whichever way you are facing.

TOTTENHAM: Friedel 6, Walker 5, Gallas 5, Caulker 6, Vertonghen 6, Huddlestone 6 (Livermore 67; 6), Sandro 6, Lennon 6, Sigurdsson 6, Dempsey 6 (Adebayor 74; 6), Defoe 8.

Subs not used: Lloris, Naughton, Dawson, Falque, Townsend.

CHELSEA: Cech 8, Ivanovic 7, Luiz 6, Cahill 7, Cole 7, Ramires 7, Mikel 8, Oscar 7 (Sturridge 83), Hazard 7 (Lampard 90), Mata 9, Torres 7.

Subs not used: Turnbull, Romeu, Moses, Azpilicueta, Bertrand.

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)