Let's all be honest it was pure chaos – but very good entertainment – at the end of Chelsea vs Everton.
Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte came to blows for a second time at Stamford Bridge on the full-time whistle following a four-goal thriller on the pitch. The game was action-packed from the very start, but it will now be remembered for the ferocious scenes at the end.
But let's not take anything away from Chelsea. The Blues produced arguably their strongest performance this year. Whatever Tuchel told his players after the 1-0 win at Everton last weekend – something clicked.
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"I think we know what we did. The players know the input they put into the game mentally and physically," Tuchel said. "We were so sharp, full-on, and played a brilliant match.
"What a step for us from the first game against Everton. I'm disappointed for the players that they don't get the reward. It's actually down to incredible decisions."
Tuchel mentions the "incredible decisions" there – and he looks set to be punished even further for some of his comments, but what might be forgotten, or perhaps overshadowed by some, is the way Chelsea performed on the afternoon. Tottenham were bad in the first half, make no mistake about that, but Chelsea made them bad.
Spurs were insistent on playing out from their defence at Stamford Bridge, but Chelsea were even more determined to pin the opposition into their own half. N'Golo Kante kept advancing into the attacking line to pressure the Tottenham defenders, and it worked a treat. It allowed Chelsea to consistently retrieve possession high up the pitch and create opportunities for themselves.
What they did lack, however – and how many times has this been said? – is the clinical touch. Kai Havertz, who worked tirelessly and overall had a good game, had a couple of golden chances that he was unable to convert.
The system Tuchel used worked perfectly. Not many managers can get the better of Conte tactically, but the Chelsea head coach managed to again. The result doesn't reflect that, however, and that's the main thing in this sport.
What we did see from Chelsea, though, is perhaps what Tuchel wants going forward. We saw a fluid front three of Havertz, Mason Mount and Raheem Sterling – who consistently interchanged positions and furiously pressed the Tottenham defenders.
A more traditional centre-forward perhaps wouldn't offer Chelsea that. See Romelu Lukaku last season, for example – and that's not to say every striker is like Lukaku in the way they play. Lukaku clearly wasn't suited to Chelsea's pressing style, and that was so evident to see for even the average football supporter. What Chelsea had against Spurs was essentially three attacking midfielders/wingers who tend to be more mobile and therefore suited better to the intense system.
Chelsea were amazing on Sunday, they really were. They made a very good Spurs side look completely average. The game will be remembered for the absolute mayhem at the end, but Tuchel will be really encouraged by what he saw.
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