Chelsea Star: "None of us want to be part of the team that lose the record against Tottenham".

Chelsea versus Tottenham through the years has been tasty to say the least. Tonight at Stamford Bridge will be no different and the players will be only too aware of what a possible defeat means. Pedro has been speaking this past week in the build up to the game and has assured the Chelsea fans that the players are fully focused on keeping our record at Stamford Bridge going.

Chelsea have not lost at home to Tottenham in the past 26 years, an incredible record which you will all agree, but the test tonight will be one of the toughest throughout that period. Mauricio Pochettino brings a young, talented side to Chelsea this evening fully deserving of their second place position in the Premier League and unless Chelsea are anywhere near their best, could walk away with three important points.

Many Chelsea fans over a certain age will remember the ding dong battles we have had throughout the years and reasons beyond that turned our the rivalry between the two clubs into possibly the biggest for blues fans.

However, those of you younger would look at Tottenham and think of them as the nearly men who have finished inside the top four twice with that not being enough on one occasion as Chelsea won the Champions League and took their place. Tottenham have always been a side that look like putting together a challenge but have always been short of a player or two.

With our drastic decline this year, Manchester City's defensive frailties, Arsenal's challenge fading as it does and Manchester United still trying to recover from Sir Alex Ferguson leaving, Tottenham have stepped up and taken full advantage with Pochettino building a side that will challenge for the next couple of years.

So to the game tonight and to Pedro. Speaking ahead of this one he said:

“None of us want to be part of the team that lose the record and we are really concentrating on making sure we keep the run going.

Is it another incentive that beating Spurs will stop them winning the League? Yes. But the most important thing for us is to win this match. 

The fact it could have an effect on the championship and be advantageous to Leicester is secondary. Leicester have played really well this season and deserve to be where they are. 

I realise this is a big big game for the Chelsea fans, the players. I know it is a really important derby in England and a match that is always played with a lot of passion and emotion.”

This will be a massive challenge for us tonight but with key personnel back, with a free week to prepare ourselves after a good performance against Bournemouth last week, Chelsea are well set to give Tottenham a right go this evening.

We have the players, we have the quality but do the players have the passion and desire to deliver a huge performance to beat Tottenham and keep our record against them at home going? Only time will tell.