Roberto De Zerbi says Tottenham have become a “complete team” after their revival continued with a 2-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Spurs ended a long wait for a Premier League win at Chelsea’s ground, having won only once in their previous 34 visits before Saturday’s match, with 11 draws and 22 defeats. The result followed Monday’s 3-1 victory over Coventry City and gave De Zerbi’s side successive wins.
Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders scored a disastrous own goal when his attempted punch flew over his own line, before Mathys Tel added a superb solo goal. Chelsea’s afternoon then deteriorated further when Cole Palmer was sent off.
Tottenham had not won at Stamford Bridge without conceding in any competition since December 1986, when they also won 2-0. Their previous victory there by any scoreline came in April 2018, when they won 3-1.
The scoreline reflected Tottenham’s performance. Chelsea managed only seven shots, their lowest total in a Premier League match this season and their fewest in a home game since registering six against Brentford in January.
Tottenham had 15 attempts and recorded 0.74 expected goals, compared with Chelsea’s 0.43.
“It was a big moment for the fans, the club and the players also. They deserved this win, they prepared very well,” De Zerbi told Sky Sports.
“We are improving a lot, we are improving in our mentality and the relationships with the players, and then we are improving on the pitch.
“Against Aston Villa, and Everton for 30 minutes, we were playing very well. Maybe with no goals, with finishing that was not good enough, and then in the first bad moment we changed mentality.
“Now it is a complete team. The players are playing better, we improved in our style. When we stay for dinner and stay together in the dressing room I see a different group, a different relationship and a different atmosphere among the players.”
De Zerbi believes a bonding and warm-weather training trip to Marbella before the Coventry match helped strengthen the squad’s unity.
“The character was great today, but we have many, many new players,” he said. “The players who were here last season, two or three seasons ago, they suffered those results, finishing 17th two times – we are working to change the last part of the history of the club.
“We are lucky because we have many great people in the dressing room, many great players. I think if we work hard, we can do something important.
“I have to believe in this group, for sure. I never lost confidence in my players.
“The week in Marbella, to speak better face to face, to open ourselves up and remove the mask, that was important.
“The atmosphere in the dressing room is maybe more important than the tactics.”
The win moved Tottenham up to 12th in the Premier League with nine points, four behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
