Tottenham at last overcome a significant mental hurdle on path back to the top four

FROM TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM - Antonio Conte delivered a monologue earlier this season about why his Tottenham side were not yet ready to become Premier League title contenders.

It came soon after Spurs were completely dismantled by Manchester United - a team of similar quality but on the back-foot with their rebuild after such a tumultuous 2021/22 season.

"I know we need a process to go step by step to become a really, really strong team and to become title contenders," Conte began.

"I like to speak about the process because I know and I feel that this club and this team needed our process. Not in 10 months or one year and click, ‘you can do it, everything is okay, you are title contenders and better than City, Chelsea, Liverpool, United and Arsenal’.

"You try to do it but you have to know there is a path. This path is compulsory. You have to go through this if you want to fight for something special and win trophies."

He then added: "I have great respect for the club and what the club wants to try to do but at the same time I know our possibilities are different to the monsters that are in England. There is a difference."

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Conte was trying to suggest that the quality of the squad isn't at the level required, but technical abilities are not the only aspect that he's trying to change and improve.

One of the main criticisms of Spurs in recent years has been their soft underbelly, their lack of ruthless cutting edge. Even among the highlights of the Mauricio Pochettino era were there equally standout moments of needless woe.

The difference between a big club and a big club comes through tangible success, but given Tottenham's lack of silverware in the last 15 years (happy belated anniversary to that 2008 League Cup win), they are further back along this 'path' Conte referred to.

Since sacking Pochettino in 2019, chairman Daniel Levy has tried to find shortcuts down that path. The appointment of Jose Mourinho simply didn't work and the less said about Nuno Espirito Santo the better.

Conte came in and overdelivered with his 2021/22 remit, guiding Spurs into the top four by making them one of Europe's most formidable sides again.

At the back end of last campaign, Tottenham claimed a landmark victory at home to north London rivals Arsenal, handing them momentum and sending the Gunners into a tailspin.

They might have just found that moment they needed this year in order to rescue a flailing season.

Sunday's 2-0 win over Chelsea was Spurs' first against the Blues at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. A fixture which has been dominated by the other side finally swung back the Lilywhites' way, and deservedly so.

Chelsea arrived in N17 in free-fall, but they have often gotten themselves out of holes with victories against Spurs regardless. This was not the case.

Tottenham were the better team from start to finish. For all of Chelsea's riches, they were unable to go toe-to-toe with a side whose manager was roughly 900km away.

At long last, Spurs looked like the streetwise and upward outfit in this fixture, with Chelsea playing the part of the confused and directionless humdrums (just don't tell their fans that, they need you to know there is a plan).

Will this game help Tottenham bridge the gap to the teams above them on a mental level? Probably not. In fact, almost definitely not. But having that Chelsea cloud cleared sets a new precedent for themselves - they really, really needed one of those in such a turbulent season.