Match Summary
Chelsea start 2015 with a humiliating loss as they crumbled to a 5-3 defeat at Tottenham.
Mourinho, who has only ever conceded five goals once when at Real Madrid, was to witness a shocking New Year show — A Comedy of Errors — at White Hart Lane. Costa started proceedings but Kane, Rose and Townsend hit back before the half-time whistle was sounded. Kane and Chadli added to it and Terry’s consolation added to a thrilling eight-goal contest.
The reality is Chelsea is still top of the table, on goals scored, but the sucker-punch would be much more lasting.
It had all started so well. Costa poked home after an exceptional Hazard run saw his shot hit the post, with Oscar on hand to feed Costa.
But then it went downhill. Kane was allowed too much room as his tracker, Oscar, was fearful of conceding a free-kick, but the actual repercussions were to be more severe: an equaliser.
A seemingly killer goal was scored just before the half-time whistle blew. Tottenham attacked and hit the post, and when Cahill stopped because he thought it was going in, Danny Rose could run all the way from his left-back position to take home.
That was not even the killer goal. Cahill committed another crime — unforgivable — by bringing down Kane and Townsend made it three in the added time at the end of the first half that came about from Tottenham’s celebration for Rose’s goal.
Mourinho knew they had to chase the game, so when looking at the bench of who to bring on, it was decided the ever-so-prolific Ramires was the answer. Remy and Drogba was to never appear.
Kane made it four seven minutes into the second half, but the yoyo-ing was to keep going. Hazard pulled one back, Chadli restored the hosts’ three-goal advantage before Terry tapped home.
It was a catalogue of errors from both defences.
Man of the Match
EDEN HAZARD: The only Chelsea player who played, today. Scored one and played the defining part of Costa’s opener. Other than him, it was totally shocking how abject Matic, Cahill and Courtois were. Nearly all of the Spurs goals were from a similar position and no-one picked it up at the first, second, third, fourth or indeed fifth time. Startling. 7/10
Manager Reaction
Mourinho was not in speaking mood: “I don’t want to be punished. I want to be around for the next match so I prefer to say that we just lost. Tomorrow is another day.”
Pochettino was delighted: “It was a great performance by the team. The most important thing today was our performance, to be believe in our way. The team showed a big mentality.”