Open final would suit Chelsea – Sinclair

Frank Sinclair says Tottenham’s thumping win over Chelsea on New Year’s Day could yet benefit the Blues when the two sides meet at Wembley on Sunday.

Jose Mourinho’s team took a 1-0 lead and appeared to be in control at White Hart Lane, but three quick goals saw them trail at the break and they ended up losing an astonishing match 5-3.

Former Chelsea defender Sinclair believes that result will have hurt the Blues and could well lead to a more attacking game.

“After winning 5-3, Tottenham will really fancy it – and that could work in our favour,” he told West London Sport.

“Generally when teams play against us and are a bit open and go for it, they come second best.

“If they come at us, we can soak it up and hit them on the break. If teams attack us there will be gaps and Chelsea have the quality and the pace – with Eden Hazard and Willian – to exploit it.

“Tottenham will be buoyant. But Chelsea will have the bit between their teeth to put that right.”

Spurs success when the sides have met has been rare in the past 25 years, with the north Londoners managing just six wins since Chelsea returned to the top flight for the 1989/90 season.

But two of those wins have come in the League Cup, a 5-1 semi-final second-leg win in 2002 and the 2-1 victory in the 2008 final.

Sinclair, who was a first-team regular at Stamford Bridge from the early 90s until 1998, said beating Tottenham almost became second nature.

“Every time we played Spurs we expected to win and we always seemed to when I was there,” he added. “We always fancied it and were always up for it.

“I cannot remember losing to them. I played in the 6-1 demolition when Tore Andre Flo scored a hat-trick and that was one of the best days. It was such a crushing win an do that to them was special.

“And the 2-1 win at White Hart Lane when Eddie Newton scored twice also sticks in the mind.

“Eddie always fancied himself playing up front and he was playing midfield that day but then got pushed up front and scored a couple of goals. That was a great day.”

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