NOTTINGHAM: Graham Potter admitted Chelsea’s disappointing 1-1 draw at Nottingham Wooded area underlined the loss of consistency that threatens to shatter their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League. Raheem Sterling put Chelsea forward within the first part on the Town Flooring on Sunday. However Ivory Coast defender Serge Aurier levelled after the damage and Chelsea had been lucky to flee with out an embarrassing defeat after Wooded area ruled for lengthy spells in the second one part.
Chelsea are languishing in 8th position after failing to win for the 6th time of their final seven league video games. The Blues are seven issues adrift of fourth positioned Manchester United within the race to qualify for the Champions League by means of a best 4 end. Simply months after changing the sacked Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea boss Potter is beginning to come underneath hearth because the early optimism after his transfer from Brighton starts to vanish.
Chelsea’s 2-0 win in opposition to Bournemouth on Boxing Day used to be meant to provide hope of a brighter duration in 2023. However whilst it’s certainly too early for Potter to be frightened about shedding the primary high-pressure task of his occupation, the 47-year-old wishes an uptick in ends up in the brand new 12 months to steer clear of hanging Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly in an ungainly place.
Wooded area are 3rd backside having gained simply 3 video games all season, however boss Steve Cooper will take center from the way in which his group rattled Chelsea in the second one part. The one darkish cloud for Wooded area used to be the alleged homophobic chanting from house supporters that earned condemnation from LGBTQ teams. Brennan Johnson threatened an early function for Wooded area when he sprinted transparent of Marc Cucurella and Thiago Silva, however Kepa Arrizabalaga spared his team-mates’ blushes with a excellent save.
In the meantime, Antonio Conte admitted Tottenham face a battle to complete within the Premier League’s best 4 after a pricey mistake from Hugo Lloris condemned the north Londoners to a dangerous 2-0 defeat in opposition to Aston Villa on Sunday. Taking part in for the primary time since France’s Global Cup ultimate defeat in opposition to Argentina, Tottenham goalkeeper Lloris weakly spilled Douglas Luiz’s shot early in the second one part and Emiliano Buendia pounced to place Villa forward.
Lloris used to be left at the bench for Tottenham’s draw in opposition to Brentford on Dec 26 as he rested after France’s agonising ultimate loss in Qatar. The 36-year-old, who conceded 3 times in opposition to Argentina sooner than France misplaced on consequences, would possibly have wanted he have been given longer to get well after his blunder in opposition to Villa. Brazilian midfielder Luiz added Villa’s 2nd function within the last levels, leaving Conte’s facet to bear jeers from pissed off lovers on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Tottenham had was hoping the primary Premier League fit of 2023 would serve to kick-start their bid to qualify for subsequent season’s Champions League by means of a best 4 end. As an alternative, they suffered a New 12 months’s Day hangover as mid-table Villa punished a torpid show. 5th positioned Tottenham have did not win either one of their suits because the Global Cup damage, a dip in shape which has allowed fourth positioned Manchester United to climb two issues above them.
Including insult to damage for Tottenham, it used to be former Arsenal boss Unai Emery who masterminded Villa’s luck on his go back to north London. Villa supervisor Emery, pushed aside via Arsenal in 2019, has now gained 3 of his 4 Premier League suits since changing the sacked Steven Gerrard in November. No participant has scored extra Premier League targets on New 12 months’s Day than Harry Kane’s 5. – AFP