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 stability.
Enzo Fernandez curled a shocking long-range effort into the underside nook on 18 minutes to offer Chelsea the lead, earlier than Andrey Santos slotted dwelling 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 closing 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 damage absence, got here off the bench along with his facet already two objectives down and left in little doubt in regards to the scale of what’s required this weekend.
“We’ve got to offer 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 damage and what he can contribute on Sunday, Maddison was trustworthy in regards to 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 tough 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 an enormous damage and you must respect the damage 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 after I do, it’s what we’ve to do. Anybody who has labored in soccer or has had this damage, it’s not simple to drop again in. It could 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 outcome whereas acknowledging the moments that price 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 a giant save for Sanchez. Then we concede one nice purpose as a result of Fernandez, a giant participant, we might 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 a giant huge probability with Richarlison.
“I feel we performed an excellent recreation. We misplaced.
“Now isn’t the time to assume an excessive amount of of this recreation. We’ve got to arrange 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 constructive as a result of right now we performed a great 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 might shut sufficient for purpose distinction to find out who goes down.
