W hen José Mourinho arrived at Tottenham a month ago, his side trailed Chelsea by 15 points. Six league matches later, Spurs will go above Frank Lampard’s side if they beat them at home on Sunday. The turnaround has been remarkable, not only in the way Spurs seem to have rediscovered their edge but in the withering of Chelsea. From apparently clear skies a crisis is approaching and the next two months feel critical for Lampard’s managerial future.
Nobody at Stamford Bridge is grumbling too much yet. Lampard, as one of the club’s greatest heroes, was always going to be indulged more than some grumpy Italian in an ill-fitting tracksuit who chewed cigarette butts on the touchline. He has promoted youth and while, as Mourinho observed on the opening weekend, that can be a handy means of lowering expectations, it has also produced some thrilling football.
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