Tottenham head coach Tim Sherwood has poured praise on Chelsea counterpart Jose Mourinho ahead of their touchline encounter on Saturday, but he is relishing the chance to become the club's first Premier League manager to beat the Blues boss at Stamford Bridge.
Sherwood has already recorded a victory at Old Trafford onto his fledgling coaching CV and he is now eyeing up the scalp of Mourinho, as Spurs look to secure their first away win against Chelsea since 1990.
When asked to comment on Mourinho’s hugely impressive unbeaten home record across his two stints as Chelsea manager, a smiling Sherwood admitted he would delight in becoming the first manager to win at the Bridge.
#INSERT
type:image
caption: Sherwood is desperate to end Tottenham's dismal 24-year winless run at Stamford Bridge
END#
“It’s incredible,” he said of Mourinho’s 74-game unblemished record as Blues boss on home soil in the Premier League. “I can’t understand why Chelsea fans like him so much! He has got a fantastic record since he has been in England and one that everyone needs to aspire to, but it would be great if it was me and Tottenham [that ended the run].
"Someone has to beat them, but Mourinho might argue that. He pretty much fitted back in from when he left. It’s about winning and he knows how to win. If you can entertain and win at the same time then good, but I think the more important thing for Mourinho is to get the three points and invariably he does that.
“They are up there, they are the ones firing at the top of the league at the moment. They’ve got players within the squad that know how to win, which is important and it helps him along the way.”
Sherwood went on to lavish praise on Chelsea man of the season Eden Hazard, and he was quizzed on whether the form of the free-scoring Belgium midfielder meant he was the best player in the Premier League right now.
“Is there a better player in England at the moment?” he pondered. “Possibly not. He is genuinely world-class. I think they’ve got a few players who are genuinely world-class and he is certainly one, and one we’ve obviously got to pay attention to tomorrow.
“If you let him have a free reign of the park then he can hurt you. He is one that inspires Chelsea, gives them a spark and makes things happen. We are going to have to keep a close eye on him.”
Christian Eriksen, Danny Rose, Etienne Capoue, Vlad Chiriches and Erik Lamela will miss the trip to Stamford Bridge, although Sherwood was quick to dismiss speculation that the latter is out for the rest of the campaign.
Kyle Walker, Younes Kaboul and Zeki Fryers all have a chance to be involved against Chelsea after shaking off knocks.