Premier League Plotlines: Hypocritical Jose, same old Arsenal, Liverpool’s free run
Neither Antonio Conte or Jose Mourinho revealed the words exchanged between the pair at the final whistle at Stamford Bridge. But Italian media that picked up the exchange suggested Mourinho was berating Conte for celebrating too vigorously at 4-0, complaining that was humiliating for the former Chelsea boss.
Conte more or less confirmed that was the topic of conversation when he defended his high-jinks as an effort to whip up the atmosphere in recognition of his players’ efforts.
If that was indeed the gist of his gripe, Mourinho might do well to consider that, were the roles reversed, and Conte had arrived at the mouth of the tunnel for a chat following a hiding, he's unlikely to have found anyone to talk to.
Mourinho would likely have long disappeared down the tunnel, having made a production of shaking hands with half the stadium, ostentatiously signalling that the contest was long over.
Some of Arsenal's critics will argue their failure to beat struggling Middlesbrough shows they have no right to be considered title contenders.
They might be right, but Wenger and this Arsenal team has shown enough this season already to say it is too early to judge them.
Last season they might well have lost this match, but they showed the rigour to get something from the game. Middlesbrough are better than their results suggest and as title rivals Manchester City and Tottenham have shown in recent games, well-organised opponents can stifle the best of teams.
TONY Pulis was keen to award Liverpool a “free run” to the Premier League title although, of course, that well suited his post-match analysis of an Anfield defeat in which West Brom were distinctly second best.
But Jurgen Klopp was less enthused about accepting the fact that the lack of European football at Anfield this season drastically improves his team’s title credentials.
That was certainly the case in 2014 when Liverpool, under Brendan Rodgers, last came close to ending the wait for a championship, a wait which now dates back to 1990.
“I played in Europe before and actually it never stopped us doing what we had to do,” said Klopp after Pulis had said Liverpool have a “free run” at the title.
“Playing good football is a big advantage, having good players is a big advantage, don’t play in the week can be a big advantage when you get injuries.
“You need the time we have, plus for training. Where it will lead us to I’ve no idea. In December, January a few other teams will not have Europe and they start again.
“I’m not sure if it was meant to be nice or a compliment or to make pressure on us, I’ve no idea but thank you and… I’ll tell the players.”
There was a time the post-match dressing room “lock-in” was as much a part of the football landscape as all-black football boots and pie and Bovril at half-time.
The modern game has seen the phenomenon all but disappear, especially with media given increasingly less access to what happens behind the closed doors of the Premier League changing room.
However, Pep Guardiola turned back the clock at the Etihad yesterday in the wake of his team’s fifth consecutive game without a victory, locking in his players for nearly an hour to analyse what is, by his exalted standards, something of a “crisis.”
“The red wine was good and I took a little bit longer with my glass,” joked Guardiola when asked why he had taken so long in the dressing room. “But we were together and spoke but nothing special - just about what the situation is we now have and we have to try and go up from this situation.”
It's unlikely Pep treated his boys to a full-blown ‘hair-dryer’ but with progress seemingly stalled at the Etihad, what has he got up his sleeve to justify the imminent publishing of a new book: Pep Guardiola, The Evolution?
While both North London clubs drew blanks, Tottenham looked less threatening than Arsenal, although they also looked considerably less likely to concede than the Gunners.
Some of Spurs’ attacking struggles must be attributed to a fine display by the home side. Harry Kane also remains a significant absentee.
Without Kane, and with Son Heung-Min preferred up front to Vincent Janssen, Spurs lacked a platform in the last third from where they could build attacks. Son has been among the goals this season but when paid close attention in a central role, he is arguably too easily shut out of a game.
When Janssen finally came on, Son, and soon Dele Alli, were subbed, robbing Spurs of the dynamism needed to work off the Dutchman.
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