It’s a massive midweek for Premier League teams in need of a reaction, with Chelsea and Spurs trailing in the Champions League, while Man Utd and West Ham respond to weekend humiliation…
Game to watch – Tottenham v AC Milan
Tottenham manager Antonio Conte flew back into London from Italy this weekend. If Spurs tamely exit the Champions League on Wednesday night, he might be boarding a return flight before the week is out.
More than a minority of Spurs fans would be fine with that, regardless of the outcome against AC Milan, especially if it results in the return of Mauricio Pochettino. Conte seems almost certain to leave at the end of the season and it isn’t as though anyone is having any fun in the meantime.
Conte might be a problem at Spurs but he isn’t the problem. No one at Tottenham seems to know what they are or even what the point of Spurs is anymore.
It seems their primary purpose is to exist in the Champions League. Not to challenge for it – as they did once under Pochettino – just be present where the money is. It would be a bonus if they could remain so beyond a second leg against Milan who bring a 1-0 lead from the first leg. But more important than anything is that they are there again next season.
That was highlighted when they chucked in the FA Cup last week to be fresh for a game at Wolves they lost anyway, letting Newcastle off the hook and allowing Liverpool to get close enough to smell their breath.
At Wolves, they weren’t dreadful. Actually, they controlled the first half, which Julen Lopetegui evidently wasn’t enjoying. Because his changes wrestled the initiative back and, by the time Adama Traore scored a late winner, it almost felt inevitable.
Maybe Conte’s return to the touchline might prompt Spurs to sharpen up and smarten up against a Milan side similarly struggling for any consistency. But that’s probably optimistic.
Read more: Spurs have forgotten who they are – it’s easy to see why the fans call for Pochettino’s return
Team to watch – Chelsea
Chelsea might not have eased the pressure on their manager by securing their first Premier League win since the middle of January, but at least Potter has something positive to cling to after a grim few weeks. But a win over Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night – one that overturns the deficit they brought back from Germany three weeks ago – would certainly give the under-fire boss some breathing space if there is a Champions League quarter-final on…
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