James Maddison has admitted it’s “a bit embarrassing” that Tottenham discover themselves combating relegation on the ultimate day of the season after a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea left their Premier League survival within the steadiness.
Enzo Fernandez curled a shocking long-range effort into the underside nook on 18 minutes to present Chelsea the lead, earlier than Andrey Santos slotted residence from six yards on 67 minutes to double their benefit.
Richarlison’s close-range end with 16 minutes remaining gave Spurs hope, however they may not discover the equaliser, with Maddison’s stoppage-time free-kick clearing the bar within the ultimate act of the night.
Tottenham should now keep away from defeat in opposition to Everton on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, or hope that Leeds United do them a favour in opposition to West Ham, to safe their top-flight standing.
Maddison, making solely his second look of the season after an extended harm absence, got here off the bench along with his facet already two objectives down and left in little doubt concerning the scale of what’s required this weekend.
“We have now to present every thing for the membership, for the badge, for the followers. It’s a bit embarrassing that we’re on this place. We’re going to wish our followers, who have been unbelievable tonight. I feel we’ve the very best away following within the league.”
On his personal return from harm and what he can contribute on Sunday, Maddison was trustworthy concerning the limits of the place he’s bodily.
“It’s an terrible time. You need to get on the pitch at 1-0 and have an effect on it. It’s much more troublesome at 2-0. It was a little bit of a dagger as I used to be approaching. I’ve been out for a very long time, so I’m not going to be at my fluid finest. I’ve had a large harm and you must respect the harm a bit. I’m going to do what I can on Sunday.”
He added: “It’s my job, it’s what I’m paid to do. I haven’t performed this season, however once I do, it’s what we’ve to do. Anybody who has labored in soccer or has had this harm, it’s not simple to drop again in. It might be catastrophic for my profession if one thing have been to occur.”
De Zerbi: ‘We performed an excellent recreation – we misplaced’
Roberto De Zerbi reduce a pissed off however defiant determine in his post-match evaluation, refusing to just accept that the efficiency warranted the consequence whereas acknowledging the moments that value his facet.
Tel struck the put up early within the match, and Richarlison had a header held by Sanchez earlier than the hour, however Spurs have been undone by Fernandez’s opener after which misplaced possession in a harmful space to permit Santos to make it 2-0.
“We created a primary probability to attain with Tel. It was an enormous save for Sanchez. Then we concede one nice purpose as a result of Fernandez, an enormous participant, we may do one thing higher. Then we keep within the recreation till the second purpose, we misplaced a silly ball. We conceded a second purpose. However earlier than the second purpose, we created an enormous huge probability with Richarlison.
“I feel we performed an excellent recreation. We misplaced.
“Now shouldn’t be the time to assume an excessive amount of of this recreation. We have now to organize for the following recreation. We play in our stadium with our followers. With our qualities, with character, with delight and braveness, we’ve to play. However I’m optimistic as a result of at present we performed recreation.”
West Ham play Leeds on the ultimate day. If Spurs fail to win in opposition to Everton and West Ham take three factors, the hole between the perimeters may shut sufficient for purpose distinction to find out who goes down.
