Mauricio Pochettino says it’s all about battle on the pitch
It’s a rematch of the tempestuous 2-2 draw six months ago that ended Spurs’ hopes of clinching the title and ensured Leicester would be crowned champions.
Chelsea players openly spoke about stopping Spurs from winning the league and the result was a bad-tempered match that saw 12 yellow cards handed out, including a Premier League record nine for Tottenham, as well as numerous scuffles on the pitch and the touchline.
Chelsea assistant Steve Holland had to be held back from jumping into one skirmish while Pochettino dived into the middle of a confrontation between Danny Rose and Willian.
The two coaches recently met to discuss Holland’s role on Gareth Southgate’s England back-room team and Pochettino says the pair made up.
“I think it was more apologising to each other,” Pochettino said.
“I think we all behaved badly in that moment because we believed something about them, they believed something about that, and in that moment there was too much stress.
“It was like: ‘C’mon, we are football people and in the end it is about a battle on the pitch’. Sometimes we need to be a little bit more calm.”
The two clubs’ rivalry has intensified in recent years. Chelsea denied Tottenham a place in the Champions League by becoming European champions in 2012 and have snatched mutual transfer targets like Willian, Oscar and Eden Hazard.
Spurs, meanwhile, refused to sell Luka Modric to Chelsea in 2011 and most recently won a contract to play at Wembley, when the Blues were also in negotiations with the Football Association about using the national stadium.
It was perhaps no surprise then when Hazard said before last season’s match at Stamford Bridge: “The fans, the club, the players, we don’t want Tottenham to win the Premier League.”
But Pochettino insists the jibes were not the only source of aggravation.
“That was not the only problem, the provocation,” Pochettino said.
“For different reasons, we arrived at the at moment, at that game, in a very sensitive moment. We were very aggressive in all that was happening. We wanted to win that game, although maybe it would not change the title, but it’s true that it was the second half, we conceded the first goal, the second goal.
“It’s true that in that moment you get frustrated, disappointed, and maybe you pay by kicking someone. You lose your cool. But I think the Chelsea players can understand. All players understand too.
"We are in a different moment now. I wish, I hope, that what happens on the pitch is we play football, and if we deserve to win then we win. And if we don’t, ok, that is football, no?”
While Chelsea’s win over Spurs came only as a crumb of consolation in an otherwise miserable title defence, Antonio Conte’s side approach this weekend’s fixture on an upward surge. They have shot to the top of the league on the back of six consecutive victories, in contrast to Tottenham who, although still unbeaten in the league, have won only once in nine in all competitions.
Conte wants his side to channel their emotions in the London derby.
“It’s right to show your passion, but in the right way, not in a bad way,” he said. “I want my players to play with great intensity, with great passion, but always in the right way.”
Conte has history with Pochettino. Although they never met as players, they did so when the Argentinian hosted Conte as Italy head coach in February 2015 at Spurs’ training base.
He spoke with Pochettino and Spurs’ then technical director Franco Baldini in a week which also saw him visit Sam Allardyce’s West Ham and Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea.
“It was a fantastic work trip,” Conte added.
Ideas were shared, but it was not full disclosure.
“When there is a discussion between two managers, you talk about football, but not completely about your ideas,” Conte added.
“You can talk about 30, 35% of your ideas. The other 65% of your ideas you keep for yourself.”
Since losses to Liverpool and Arsenal, Conte has switched to a 3-4-3 formation which has proved beneficial in attack and defence.
John Terry has scarcely featured - one substitute appearance in the Premier League and one start in the EFL Cup loss at West Ham - after initially being absent with an ankle problem.
Now Terry, 36 next month, is out for “two, three weeks, maybe”, Conte says, with a buttock problem.
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