Tottenham are not yet safe from Premier League relegation and the battle to stay in the top flight will go down to the final day of the season.
Spurs could have saved themselves from any last day drama by picking up a result against fierce rivals Chelsea on Tuesday night. However, their historic Stamford Bridge hoodoo struck again as they were beaten 2-1 by a Blues side who had not won in the Premier League since the beginning of March prior to defeating Tottenham.
The visitors started the game on the front foot and looked in command of proceedings, ready to take advantage of a beleaguered Chelsea side who had been beaten in the FA Cup final on Saturday.
Second goal killed Tottenham at Stamford Bridge
andrey santos
However, things went awry when Enzo Fernandez scored from range in the 18th minute and Spurs could not wrestle the momentum back in the first half.
They came out with renewed purpose in the second half, but with Roberto De Zerbi looking to make changes, a 67th minute Andrey Santos goal gave them a mountain to climb.
Richarlison pulled one back seven minutes later, but despite some good opportunities and a massive call for a penalty, Tottenham could not grab the equaliser that would have saved them from relegation before the final day of the season.
There were some good performances on the night, coupled with some poor ones and none were more poor than Randal Kolo Muani.
The French forward was laboured in possession, wasteful with his deliveries and on one occasion could not even be bothered to chase a ball down the right hand side, assuming it was going out, yet it stayed in and Chelsea could build another attack from the back with no pressure on them whatsoever. He was handed a 3/10 rating by football.london's Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold - the worst of any player on the pitch, including the substitutes.
He was also at fault for the second goal, that had Micky van de Ven apoplectic.
Kolo Muani had the ball on the right touchline and in an attempt to pass the ball to Rodrigo Bentancur in the middle, found absolutely no one, with Chelsea picking up the ball and streaming towards goal, with Spurs having committed men to an attacking phase of play.
Kolo Muani was hooked immediately - he had been in line to be replaced prior to that horror moment - and there is an argument for not seeing him in a Spurs shirt ever again.
On loan from Paris Saint-Germain, the 27-year-old is due to head back to his parent club this summer once the Premier League season ends. But there should be no thought of trying to sign him permanently.
The Aston VIlla win - and perhaps the Champions League clash against his parent club - apart, Kolo Muani has been nothing short of a disaster.
De Zerbi could try different options to replace Kolo Muani
kolo muani
He has started every game under De Zerbi since he has been at the club, but that is mainly down to the Italian having a lack of other options, with injuries to Xavi Simons, Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski, Wilson Odobert and Dominic Solanke.
Solanke could return for the monumentally big clash with Everton on the final day of the season, while there is a real argument to be made that one of the central midfielders could be bumped out to the right-hand side and still offer more than Kolo Muani has done.
Archie Gray has been a beacon of light in a desperately poor season, yet finds himself on the bench as De Zerbi goes for experience in troubling times. He would at least have more energy and a bit more about him, if not being the winger to really suit a De Zerbi system, than Kolo Muani. Lucas Bergvall similarly.
There is only one more game to go and it's a big one and Tottenham simply cannot afford to carry any passengers.
Richarlison Related
7 Years Later: Tottenham Get Green Light to Sign Huge Richarlison Upgrade
A deal could finally be completed.