Tottenham's fifth-place spot looks shiny on paper, but Saturday’s humiliation at Stamford Bridge blows the gloss off. The scoreline masks the truth: this felt like a procession from Chelsea and a team searching for identity from Spurs.
What the league table whispers, the performance screams it’s still uncertain whether Thomas Frank’s side are headed anywhere worthwhile.
The table lies, the football doesn’t
Numbers don’t always tell the whole story. The table says improvement; the football doesn’t.
Since mid-September, Spurs have managed just three wins in ten competitive matches one versus lower-league Doncaster, a lucky 2–1 at Leeds helped by two deflections, and a strange away win at Everton, propped up by set-piece luck and a goalkeeper’s theatrics.
Their attacking output looks anaemic: one of the lowest open-play xG figures in the league and a frontline that’s either missing, injured, or ghosting each other, with Mohamed Kudus the lone source of clear threat
Stamford Bridge: One-sided and uncomfortable
If you only glanced at the 1–0 result you’d think a tight derby took place. Watch the game properly and it’s a different story.
Chelsea dominated the chances, piling up a mammoth 3.68 expected goals while Spurs scraped together three shots; all from Kudus, and an xG of 0.10. Guglielmo Vicario did what he could, but he was essentially a man keeping the score respectable rather than the catalyst for a Spurs display.
The managerial question: Thomas Frank’s methods under strain
Injuries are a factor, but Frank has a large squad and a lot of choices. The odd lineups and tactical fixes that made him a hero at Brentford are misfiring here.
Beyond tactics, there’s a cultural worry: after the Chelsea defeat two players; Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence, ignored a request to thank fans, and the episode laid bare a fragile dressing-room dynamic.
Frank called it “small,” pundits shrugged but professional standards matter. When bodies are run ragged on the pitch, leaving teammates to face backlash alone is a sign of a bigger problem.
Chelsea’s glass-half-full weekend
Enzo Maresca’s side walked away with a confidence boost. They did it without Cole Palmer and kept their discipline intact. Yet this victory also underlines Tottenham’s futility more than Chelsea’s masterclass. It’s a positive day for Maresca, but a warning sign flashing red for Spurs’ trajectory
Verdict: Where do the Spurs want to be?
This wasn’t just a bad night; it was a reminder that league position isn’t destiny.
Tottenham can sit fifth and still look unconvincing. The real test is whether Frank can translate squad depth into consistent performances, shake up a troubling team culture, and get his attackers firing. If not, the big question remains: even if they reach where Frank wants them to go, is it a destination the club can be proud of?
