Remember, remember the fifth of November?
Four months have passed since that fateful day at White Hart Lane – the day Tottenham finally lifted the hex Chelsea held over them since 1987. No more Three Point Lane taunts.
There are no points to play for in this game, just a place in the next round and an equally impressive record that Chelsea won’t want to lose: Spurs have not won at Stamford Bridge since a 1-2 top flight triumph on the 10th February 1990.
Jose Mourinho will not want to suffer the ignominy of losing both Chelsea’s unbeaten records against Spurs in the same season.
A defeat in this game would also be Mourinho’s first domestic home defeat as Chelsea manager.
The biggest decision facing Mourinho is whether to recall John Terry.
He said yesterday: “He is all clear. I want him to play and I think he is ready to play. John wants to play, he thinks he is ready to play.
“But this is the kind of decision I cannot make. It is up to the medical department to decide.”
Chelsea have no other injury worries, with Joe Cole the only long-term absentee.
Martin Jol will be without Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Ledley King, while Jermaine Jenas remains a doubt with a groin problem. Mido may return after having a cyst on his knee.
The last time Chelsea and Spurs met in the Cup was in the quarter-finals at White Hart Lane on 10th March 2002, when Eidur Gudjohnsen got a double, and William Gallas and Graeme Le Saux helped themselves to one each.
Chelsea went on to reach the final at the Millennium Stadium but lost 2-0 to Arsenal.
The Blues’ last Cup final success was the last final to be contested at the old Wembley when they beat Aston Villa 1-0 in 2000.
With the FA taking control of the new Wembley keys on Friday, Chelsea are aiming to be the first to lift the Cup at the revamped stadium on 19th May.
Related links
- Graham Poll: Why is that *!@?#% in the black?
- Where Chelsea-Spurs will be won
- FA Cup pre-match briefing: Chelsea v. Tottenham Hotspur
- Jose: We must be at our best at the back
- Motty’s Match of the Day: Why the omens are against Mourinho’s men
- Mourinho: FA Cup is special
