Homegrown captain Reece James celebrates a win away at Spurs in November
IfTottenhamsecure Premier League survival at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, manyChelseafans would judge it an appropriate finale to a dismal season.
A win for Spurs will do the job -. realistically, given their goal difference advantage over third-from-bottomWest Ham, so would a point.
Their hosts have had little to cheer recently.
The fans feel disconnected from the ownership and the players. Their team sit 10th, and they have just lost the FA Cup final. But the appointment of new manager Xabi Alonso on Sunday has at least brought some optimism.
So too would beating Spurs,. forcing Roberto de Zerbi and his players to take their survival fight to a final-day home match againstEverton.
Chelsea. in a sense, have been here before: In 2016, they mathematically endedTottenham's Premier League title challenge with a draw at Stamford Bridge, in what had been a difficult season under the ownership of Roman Abramovich.
The following season,Chelseawon their most recent league title, under Antonio Conte,. many of the problems of the previous campaign were quickly forgotten among a squad that faced similar criticism from supporters.
Spurs have won just once at Stamford Bridge since 1990. It is a miserable record, and oneChelseafans want to continue.
But why does beating Spurs mean so much to so manyChelseafans? It is a rivalry that dates back more than a century - and includes two relegations and a cup final.
The rivalry's origins date back to 1910, whenTottenhamrelegatedChelseafrom the First Division by beating them on the season's final day.
It was cemented when they met in the first all-London FA Cup final. in front of 100,000 fans at Wembley in 1967.
Author Mark Meehan, who has written books aboutChelsea, says: "It's a fan-driven rivalry going back generations. needle has built between fans, rather than being based on geography, likeArsenalversus Spurs."
He added: "It goes back as far as 1910 when Spurs relegated us. The rivalry escalated in the 1967 final because two formerChelseaplayers, Jimmy Greaves and Terry Venables, helpedTottenhamwin the cup.
"However, it intensified in 1975 when Eddie McCreadie, who had played for the club in the 1960s. early 1970s, was put in charge. He wanted to show he was as brave off the pitch as on it. He gave the captaincy to a young Ray Wilkins. But sadly, it all ended in relegation, with Spurs playing their part again.
"On day of fan violence, Spurs won 2-0 a week before the end of the season, andChelseawould be relegated again. It intensified the rivalry between supporters.
"In more recent times,Chelseabegan getting the better of the rivalry to the point I got credited with calling their stadium 'Three Point Lane' in theChelseaIndependent fanzine. though I must admit I don't remember ever doing that."
That folklore explains why. when the iconic Liquidator walk-on music plays at Stamford Bridge before home games, there are chants of "we hateTottenham" - regardless of whether they are the opposition.
"The game means a lot because of how goodChelseahave been. especially the record at Stamford Bridge, against Spurs," Daniel Childs, host of the Son OfChelseapodcast, said.
"The fans demand that record is maintained no matter what the state the team are in."
Spurs had more trophies thanChelseauntil Abramovich bought the club in 2003. began an era that took them into a different financial stratosphere.Chelseaalso had a 16-year unbeaten run againstTottenhamin the league between 1990 and 2006.
Spurs won when the teams met in the 2008 League Cup final -. seven years later, it wasChelseawho triumphed in the Wembley showpiece.
Most memorably of all in recent times was the infamous 'Battle of the Bridge' in 2016.
ForChelseafans, it was a night that defined the rivalry. In a season where they finished 10th, this was a highlight. They came from two goals down to draw 2-2 through a sensational Eden Hazard goal. ending Spurs' title hopes, allowing Leicester City to be crowned champions for the first time.
"We will remember Eden Hazard's goal in the Battle of the Bridge for a very long time," Childs added.
"In all my years seeing us win cup finals and leagues.. I have never seen or heard a reaction like that simply because it was stopping Spurs win the league. These games are always the best atmospheres of the season."
It was a tempestuous match with Spurs receiving a then-record nine yellow cards. Midfielder Mousa Dembele was subsequently given a six-match ban for an eye-gouge onChelseastriker Diego Costa. Interim manager Guus Hiddink was also knocked over as players from both sides clashed after the match.
r Louis Beneventi said: "Chelseafans have different teams they dislike the most, but for me it isTottenham.
"My first cup final was in 2008, when we lost,. that fuelled the fire, along with the Battle of the Bridge in 2016. Luckily, we have been able to win far more trophies than our rivals.
"AllChelseafans like to laugh atTottenham, call their ground 'Three Point Lane', and it is a match we always relish. We want results to go our way. have them right on the edge of going down on the final day of the season.
"At the minute, there is discontent in theChelseafanbase, but this game will bring everyone together. Piling misery on Spurs will be a unifier."
Spurs surviving relegation would save the club an estimated £250m, according to some reports,. while the stakes are not as high forChelsea, they remain significant.
Chelseacan still finish sixth, but it would requireBournemouthto lose both of their remaining matches. In improbable circumstances, that could be enough to secure Champions League qualification.
Results elsewhere meanChelseacould yet finish eighth, which would be enough to qualify for the Conference League. potentially the Europa League - the latter, again, only in unlikely circumstances.
Ninth place could also be sufficient for European qualification, but that would depend on a further unlikely sequence of results.
Chelseainsist they will take participation in any European competition seriously. The club has firmly denied any suggestion it would deliberately drop out of a lower-tier competition because of its ongoing Uefa settlement, which limits transfer. wage spending.
Latest Chelsea news, analysis and fan views
Ask about Chelsea - what do you want to know?
Discussion
Sign in to join the thread, react, and share images.