Both managers have made shock changes to their sides ahead of the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley between Tottenham and Chelsea.
Kyle Walker is rested for Spurs — Kieran Trippier starts at right-back. Victor Wanyama returns to the starting eleven, and it is Ben Davies who is dropped. Heung-Min Son also starts.
That could mean Mauricio Pochettino will deploy a 3-4-2-1 with Trippier and Son as wing-backs. Or Jan Vertonghen could play left-back in a back four. Either way, it is not the eleven Tottenham fans were expecting.
Chelsea fans will be even more surprised with Antonio Conte’s team selection. The Blues boss has decided to drop Eden Hazard and Deigo Costa, while Gary Cahill misses out on the squad altogether through illness.
Clearly Chelsea are prioritising the league, but dropping Hazard and Costa is a huge shock. Whoever wins today could gain a mental advantage in the title race.
Here’s how Spurs fans reacted to all the team news.
#THFC: Lloris (C), Trippier, Dier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Wanyama, Dembele, Son, Eriksen, Dele, Kane. #COYS pic.twitter.com/8SBCVXeBhc
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 22, 2017
Subs: Lopez, Davies, Walker, Wimmer, Sissoko, Nkoudou, Janssen. #COYS
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 22, 2017
Our starting team today is Courtois; Azpilicueta (c), David Luiz, Ake; Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso; Willian, Batshuayi, Pedro. #CHETOT
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 22, 2017
Think that's Antonio Conte's way of guarding against the emotional – rather than physical – cost of a potential defeat.
— Seb Stafford-Bloor (@SebSB) April 22, 2017
#thfc Trippier & Son have started every round of the cup so far – may have influenced Poch's thinking. He planned to pick Vorm before injury
— Ben Pearce (@BenPearceSpurs) April 22, 2017
Expect an asymmetrical back 4 that often looks quite back 3-ish. Similar to how we played v Boro. And as Poch alluded to away at S. Bridge
— Nathan (@TTTactics) April 22, 2017
Conte knows we've done our homework on Hazard & Costa so he puts in a different team & bring them on later to try & sink us.
— Eric (@EricYid) April 22, 2017
Conte has given himself the safety net of being able to tell his players they weren't at full strength if they lose – interesting decision.
— Raj Bains (@BainsXIII) April 22, 2017
Have to admire the courage of Mauricio Pochettino:
Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli, Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane all starting! #COYS#THFC
— Ricky Sacks ? (@RickSpur) April 22, 2017
Harsh on Davies but understandable with Wednesday on our plate. #coys
— James Dickens (@JamesYahooSport) April 22, 2017
We've been discussing all week how we get Dier, Wanyama and Son in the side. He's done it.
— Joe (@sayers_14) April 22, 2017
Now hearing it definitely will be Son as wing-back. Experimental, if nothing else.
— Dan Kilpatrick (@Dan_KP) April 22, 2017
I have no idea whats going on. Chelsea already thinking about next league game? Spurs gone experimental?
Fuck it.
COME ON SPURS
— Spooky (@Spooky23) April 22, 2017
