A lot has changed since Chelsea and Tottenham last met in August

Chelsea and Tottenham’s last battle was marred by Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte’s infamous handshake. Six months on, neither will be on the touchline and A LOT has changed… with both clubs not the title contenders they had hoped to be

• Chelsea and Tottenham last played against each other in a 2-2 draw in August
• It was a fiery encounter which saw Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte clash
• Tuchel has since been sacked as Chelsea boss while Conte won’t be on touchline

If the clash between these two sides at Stamford Bridge is anything to go by, we can expect goals, controversy, mass brawls and managers seeing red – in more ways than one.

It was back in August when Harry Kane’s stoppage-time header salvaged a 2-2 draw for Tottenham against Chelsea – in a game marred by ugly scenes at full-time.

Former Chelsea managers Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte were both handed red cards after squaring up to one another and sparking a melee on the pitch. An incandescent Tuchel blamed the Spurs boss for instigating the heated row by not looking into his eyes as they shook hands.

Tensions had boiled throughout the contest, with Tuchel furious that both Tottenham goals had been allowed to stand, as he attacked referee Anthony Taylor in his post-match conference.  

But a lot has changed since then. When the London rivals meet again at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium six months on, neither Tuchel or Conte will be on the touchline – for different reasons – but tensions could be even higher.

When Tottenham and Chelsea met in August, Antonio Conte (r) and Thomas Tuchel (l) clashed

Graham Potter and Cristian Stellini will be taking charge this time around for the rivals’ clash

Tuchel was sacked less than a month after the fiery encounter, under the new Todd Boehly regime, while Conte is recovering from gallbladder surgery as Tottenham assistant Cristian Stellini prepares to stand in once again.

That’s not the only difference, though. In fact, it’s incredible how much can change in six months, with fans of both clubs so far bemused with what they are seeing.

Chelsea – who let’s not forget were European champions in 2021 – have won just two of their past 14 games in all competitions, as Graham Potter struggles to make his expensively assembed side tick.

Potter retains the backing of the Chelsea chiefs – who funded him with £323m in the January market –  but will be under huge pressure to win this crucial game to dispel rumours he could be axed – with his side 10th in the league after one win this calendar year.

The Blues – who were hoping to be title contenders at the start of the campaign – are coming off a shocking home defeat against bottom place Southampton – with midfielder James Ward-Prowse’s fine free-kick heaping more misery on the fans.

Potter will be fielding a completely different line-up to the one we saw in August, with Jorginho no longer at the club, N’Golo Kante coming back from injury and even Edouard Mendy no longer first choice goalkeeper. 

New additions Enzo Fernandez, Mykhailo Mudryk, Joao Felix, Benoit Badiashile and Noni Madueke are all likely to be involved.

Tuchel was sacked soon after the Stamford Bridge clash; Conte is recovering from surgery

There will be some new faces on show when Chelsea and Tottenham meet again on Sunday

Meanwhile, Tottenham – despite being halfway through a Champions League last-16 tie with AC Milan – are enduring a topsy-turvy season, perhaps made worse by the uncertainty surrounding the future of crucial personnel.

Conte has so far refused to commit his future to Tottenham, and although the north London club are fourth in the Premier League, questions have been raised over their mixed performances.

There are also major doubts over Harry Kane’s future, with the England captain yet to pen a new deal, as he continues to be linked with the likes of Man United in the summer.

Frustration towards chairman Daniel Levy also grows, with Spurs trophy-less since 2008. 

It remains to be seen whether Conte or Harry Kane will still be at Tottenham next season

Levy – who reportedly gave himself a £500,000 pay rise – has already faced chants of ‘get out of our club’ this season and more could be coming after recently admitting that the club ‘have felt and continue to feel’ the financial burden of supporting their transfer flops’.

Spurs also recruited in hope of a title push but £60m Richarilson – who came on as a substitute in the fixture at Stamford Bridge – looks destined for another spot on the bench, as the Brazilian struggles to emulate his World Cup form in a Spurs shirt.

Clashes between these two London giants never disappoint, but you get the sense that the outcome is more important then ever.

When the teams meet in north London on Sunday at 1.30pm, there will be much, much more than pride at stake. 

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