Chelsea set themselves apart from Spurs thanks to experience

Chelsea overcame Southampton on Tuesday night to extend their lead over Spurs to seven points. They set themselves apart from their London rivals thanks to their experience.

Winning the Premier League is difficult. Just ask Steven Gerrard. It takes far more than mere talent. Athletic, technical and tactical gifts are all well and good, but it is – as it is with most sports – a competition that, while played with your feet, is won and lost between the ears.

That is why there was such shock and wonderment at Leicester City’s miraculous title-winning campaign last season. Experience is something that is reserved for the established, the accomplished, the ever-present, hard-line winners. 

Not minnows like Leicester. But the Foxes outfoxing everyone is an anomaly, a rare and remarkable treat that should be cherished and praised. But not replicated. At least not with ease. And that is the fate that Tottenham Hotspur are staring, stark in the face.

It may be that they are, technically, tactically and athletically, the best team in the country. The fluid, dynamic football that they have blessed us all within these latter months, has been a joy to behold. The skill of Dele Alli, the ingenuity and creativity of Christian Eriksen, the throwback physicality of Harry Kane, the power and the dominance of Moussa Dembele. This is simply put a brilliant team.

And yet, they now find themselves seven points behind leaders Chelsea after their London rivals overcame a tricky Southampton side 4-2. The clear difference between the two squads was evident to see in the Blues’ post-match comments.

Eden Hazard, a man known for his dazzling dribbling and astounding balance was keen to point out the role that pressure plays. “It’s always good to play before and put pressure on them [Spurs],” as if he is acutely aware that for all his silky skills, deft touches and sensuous finishes, it is the mind that determines the victor.

Gary Cahill echoed the sentiment, stating: “It’s the first time for a long time we’ve played before Tottenham.” This is a Chelsea team that have been there, done it and got the t-shirt. Antonio Conte himself described the game as ‘a really important’ mental test, one that he and his players gave an answer that was ‘very good.’

Chelsea are singing off of the same hymn sheet and it is serving them well. Tottenham Hotspur travel to Crystal Palace on Wednesday night, a team that have beaten Arsenal, Liverpool and even Chelsea themselves in recent weeks. It is far from a gimmie.

And for all the praise that their players have rightly received, after the loss to Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday, they now face the likely prospect of yet another trophyless season. And that FA Cup semi was a worryingly accurate representation of both side’s years. Spurs were the better team. They controlled the play for much of the game, scored two exquisite goals and were deserving of the win. But Chelsea, as they have done for so many years, ground out their success, scoring two goals from set pieces, a third from a poorly cleared corner and the final one, a thunderbolt from Nemanja Matic, of all people, to ensure their progression.

Winning the Premier League is difficult. Just ask Steven Gerrard. It takes far more than mere talent. Athletic, technical and tactical gifts are all well and good, but it is – as it is with most sports – a competition that, while played with your feet, is won and lost between the ears. And that is where Chelsea set themselves apart from their London rivals.