Tottenham and Chelsea set for latest chapter in 'unique' rivalry
True Spurs fans knew this was always going to be our destiny. The rivalry between Tottenham and Chelsea is unique in London. Then, as hooliganism and culture wars spread through football in the 1970s and 1980s, both sets of supporters grew to truly despise each other, with Spurs establishing themselves as the dominant side in the rivalry.
[BBC] [Getty Images] True Spurs fans knew this was always going to be our destiny. Like a classic computer game, we would have to vanquish the end-of-level boss to progress. We hoped three points against Leeds would render this trip to Chelsea inconsequential, but thanks to Mathys Tel's ill-timed acrobatics, we now need something from Stamford Bridge.
The rivalry between Tottenham and Chelsea is unique in London. The 'Cockney Cup Final' in 1967, the first all-London FA Cup final, is widely viewed as the moment the modern rivalry began. Then, as hooliganism and culture wars spread through football in the 1970s and 1980s, both sets of supporters grew to truly despise each other, with Spurs establishing themselves as the dominant side in the rivalry.
But then everything changed. The balance of power swung towards blue following Roman Abramovich's arrival. Despite Chelsea rising to the summit of English and European football, the hatred between the two fanbases never softened.
No matter how successful they became, beating Tottenham still mattered. The Premier League archives are filled with classic encounters, wonder goals and reckless two-footed lunges. There have been running battles, countless red cards, 4-4 draws, ghost goals in semi-finals, League Cup final victories for both sides and, of course, Chelsea somehow winning the Champions League in 2012 to deny Spurs a place in the competition.