Chelsea isn't further away from the young & exciting Spurs team Pochettino built

As attention turned to what next for Chelsea, Mauricio Pochettino quickly interjected when it was suggested that it was Tottenham.

'Next one is Wednesday here, Carabao Cup,' he pointed out, referring to Blackburn's fourth round visit.

But his first return to Spurs is looming large, Chelsea's next league assignment next Monday.

And for some time it has been an upcoming occasion that is impossible to ignore and one that brings back reminders of the good times Pochettino enjoyed in north London.

After his current side failed to win at home once more against Brentford, memories of how good Pochettino's peak Tottenham team were on their ground came to mind.

His Spurs once went a historic whole season unbeaten in their final year at White Hart Lane.

Those who witnessed it first-hand remember how Pochettino evolved Spurs into a side who for a spell were convinced they were almost unstoppable, especially at home.

If the game was a physical battle or technical test they believed they would come out on top.

If a tactical solution was required, there was total faith that Pochettino could find it.

The contrast with Chelsea right now could not be greater.

Just three league wins have been secured at home during 2023 and Manchester City and Brighton are two of their four remaining visitors.

Yes, it took time for Pochettino to build that Spurs team but that is a - and his - benchmark, along with Chelsea teams of old who possessed a similar sense of invincibility.

This version, as Pochettino admitted, can be frustrated too easily when faced with defensively diligent and deep opponents. There is also nowhere near the same authority.

If they go behind the final outcome appears inevitable rather than it feeling like they can snatch victory from the