Published: October 24, 2026 at 11:36 am
Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur renew their fierce London rivalry in the Premier League on Saturday, with Tottenham looking to build on their 3-1 win over Coventry City. Speaking in an interview shared by JioStar, Tottenham Hotspur’s Sandro Tonali discusses the recent victory, the upcoming derby and the significance of the rivalry for both sets of supporters.
Tonali opened about the team’s first win of the season against Coventry City. “We knew that our first win of the season had been a long time coming, so we are delighted to have finally got it. We hadn’t made the best start to our Premier League campaign, and after six matches, we finally got our first victory. We are happy for the supporters, players, staff and everyone associated with Tottenham. It’s not as though we had played poorly in our previous three matches. We were doing well against Manchester United before the red card, and we played one of our best first halves of the season against Aston Villa. Although we lost that game, our performance was by no means poor,” he said.
“Against Coventry City, we deserved the victory. We took lead in the first half and went on to win 3-1, putting in a strong performance. We attacked and defended together throughout the 90 minutes, and that collective effort was crucial. If we continue to play the way we did against Coventry, we will give ourselves a great chance of winning more Premier League matches,” he added.
Game against Chelsea will be tough, says Hotspur’s Tonali
On facing Chelsea, Tonali said: “The game against Chelsea will be very tough, but we have to play to our strengths and stay true to our identity. We must give our all if we want to win this game. If you always play to win and give hundred percent on the pitch, you can be satisfied with your performance. When you leave everything out there, you know you have given your best, regardless of the result. When you lose games regularly, it can affect your confidence and the mood within the team.
“However, things are different here at Tottenham. We have a very good team and a strong group of players. We have been playing well and creating plenty of chances in almost every game, but, for various reasons, we were dropping points week after week. Things changed with the win against Coventry, which was an important turning point. Now, we need to build on that momentum and keep winning games. Chelsea are one of our biggest rivals, and this game gives us the perfect opportunity to bounce back, build confidence, and get our season back on track,” he said.
On the rivalry between Tottenham and Chelsea, he said: “The rivalry between Tottenham and Chelsea is one of the biggest in English football. You feel it the moment you walk into the field. The fans talk about this game all year, and you can see what it means to them. These are the matches you look forward to as a player. Form and league position do not matter much in a game like this. It is about desire, fight, and who wants it more on the day. We know what is at stake for our supporters, and we want to give them a result to celebrate.
“Chelsea are a strong side with quality players. Their fans will be right behind them, and we have to handle that atmosphere. But we have players who have been in these situations before, and we have to stay calm and play our game. We have to be at our best from the first whistle and play with the kind of intensity this fixture demands. A win here would mean a lot, not just for the table, but for the belief in the group and for the people who back us every week,” Tonali added.
On how the team’s recent bonding trip helped build chemistry within the group after a summer of big changes, he said: “When you bring in a lot of new players, it takes time to get to know each other and understand one another. Last week, we spent time together as a team without our phones or distractions, listening to music, playing games and taking part in various activities. It was a big step forward for our team chemistry and helped us bond. With 10 new players joining in one summer, building a cohesive team takes time. You need to understand your teammates, their routines and sometimes even their families. Every player is different, and it is important to know your teammates both on and off the pitch. The trip was a really positive experience for me and the new players, and we showed that same team spirit by playing together as a family against Coventry City.”
