Throughout a current journey to , I reminded him that it’s 10 years this month because the “Battle of the Bridge” between and .
“Wow”, replied Fàbregas, shaking his head on the reminiscence. “That was one of many craziest video games I ever performed in.”
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Fàbregas, then a participant, was accused of sparking the ugly brawl on the finish of the sport by slapping the groins of Spurs gamers and workers. That story stays unconfirmed by the person himself, however he needed to be dragged off the pitch by Guus Hiddink, who was Chelsea’s interim supervisor on the time.
The one motivation for Chelsea and Fàbregas again on Might 2, 2016 was to finish Tottenham’s bid to win the Premier League title, which they duly did by drawing the sport 2-2 because of a dramatic late aim.
One of many on-pitch clashes noticed Cesc Fabregas and trade phrases – Ben Stansall/Getty Photographs
Spurs journey to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night time realizing a degree would successfully affirm their security within the Premier League. Chelsea’s hopes of qualifying for Europe relaxation on profitable the sport. However the greatest incentive for some dwelling supporters is to maintain their London rivals in hassle heading into the ultimate spherical of video games.
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Roberto De Zerbi was in control of Italian Serie C membership Foggia in 2016 and has no recollection of the Battle of the Bridge. However Tottenham’s head coach understands solely too nicely why rival followers wish to see his workforce get relegated and believes he and his gamers can use it as further motivation.
“I’m Italian and in , it’s the identical,” mentioned De Zerbi. “For the most important groups, it’s the identical. We’ve to simply accept the stress. We’ve to take pleasure in this stress. We’ve to search out new motivation from this stress. I feel it’s a great factor for us. If everybody needs Tottenham relegated, it’s a giant motivation for me and I hope for my gamers as nicely.
“We’ve to simply accept that soccer is sweet due to the rivalità [rivalry]. It’s good to think about ourselves celebrating the win of their [Chelsea’s] stadium. It’s the rationale soccer is like this, no? It’s a motivation, it’s a problem.
“Satisfaction is wonderful motivation. The pleasure. If everybody needs Tottenham relegated, I feel for one Tottenham participant, one Tottenham fan, all of the individuals who work inside Tottenham, it needs to be the most important motivation.”
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Chelsea made it clear they’re eager to faucet into the spirit of the Battle of the Bridge by posting highlights of the sport on the membership’s official social media account on Monday afternoon.
Tottenham have gained one in all their final 35 video games at Stamford Bridge and requested if he had addressed that horrible file together with his squad, De Zerbi mentioned: “Sure. We spoke this [Monday] morning about this file.
“However a very powerful is the spirit, the character for tomorrow – to play a great sport. To make factors. As a result of a very powerful factor now’s to remain up. And to play within the Premier League subsequent season. Everyone needs to remain up, everybody needs to attain this aim after which we are able to discuss the whole lot.”
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De Zerbi believes the way in which Tottenham have improved since his appointment affords the gamers encouragement that they don’t have anything to concern on Tuesday night time.
“I defined [to them] – the final win earlier than was December 28 after which we gained two video games in a row,” mentioned De Zerbi. “It’s not the file that’s essential. It’s the temper, the way you go to play the sport.
“Nothing modified for the sport tomorrow. Tomorrow is totally one other sport. We’ve to neglect different issues, unfavorable issues. We’ve to recollect, we’re Tottenham and now we have to attempt to win the sport. Additionally in Stamford Bridge.”
Extremely, no person was despatched off within the Battle of the Bridge. Tottenham obtained 9 yellow playing cards within the sport and was retrospectively banned for six video games for a watch gouge on .
Diego Costa was, for as soon as, the sufferer in his conflict with Mousa Dembele – Catherine Ivill/Getty Photographs
There may be proof to counsel the newest Stamford Bridge assembly between the golf equipment might be a feisty affair, with Tottenham and Chelsea sitting joint backside of the Premier League honest play desk. Spurs have 91 yellow playing cards and 4 purple playing cards this season, to Chelsea’s 80 bookings and 7 dismissals.
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Requested how his gamers ought to method the sport, De Zerbi mentioned: “All the time calm with blood. With blood, with character, with the proper spirit. Calm and focus simply on the sport.”
It’s not simply the gamers of the golf equipment who’ve clashed up to now. In 2016, former Spurs supervisor Mauricio Pochettino was caught up within the arguing, whereas Hiddink was by accident pushed to the bottom. In 2022, Antonio Conte, then of Tottenham, and Thomas Tuchel, who was in control of Chelsea, squared up over a handshake.
On his personal duty to behave, De Zerbi, who was booked in final week, mentioned: “I don’t play on the pitch and I’ve to be myself. And usually, this [calm] is my behaviour on the bench.”
Whereas Tottenham went to Chelsea realizing they needed to win to maintain their 2016 title hopes alive, a draw can be sufficient to all-but affirm their Premier League standing because of their superior aim distinction to . However De Zerbi was fast to dismiss any suggestion that his workforce will play for the solitary level they want at Stamford Bridge.
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“No, no. Cease,” demanded De Zerbi, when a reporter tried to ask him if Tottenham might go into Tuesday night time’s sport with the primary goal of avoiding defeat.
“We will’t begin the sport pondering to attract. We’ve to begin the sport, and we put together the sport, and we communicate within the assembly, to win the video games. Each video games. After which in soccer…we don’t know. However, for positive, we attempt to win.”
4 instances Chelsea damage Tottenham at Stamford Bridge
Battle of the Bridge, 2-2, 02/05/2016Twelve gamers booked (9 from Tottenham) as Chelsea ended Spurs’ title hopes with targets from and Eden Hazard as they got here again from 2-0 down at half-time.
Tuchel vs Conte, 2-2, 14/08/2022Spurs got here from behind twice with ’s sixth-minute stoppage-time equaliser incomes the guests a degree. Tempers flared on the touchline at full time with an intense handshake between Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte.
Hasselbaink hat-trick, 4-0, 13/03/2002Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s excellent hat-trick and a aim rounded off a Stamford Bridge thrashing after Mauricio Taricco was despatched off for Spurs.
Chelsea 4 Spurs 3, 27/02/1994Spurs squandered a 2-0 result in go in at half-time dropping in a goal-fest. Andy Grey managed to stage it for Spurs from the penalty spot after the break, however missed an important second spot-kick which allowed Mark Stein to nick the winner with a last-minute aim from 12 yards.