Chelsea, Spurs go head to head in Champions League battle
Chelsea host Tottenham needing three points to seal Champions League qualification, as visitors must also win to stay in race for last two spots
Juan Mata's decisive strike at Manchester United last weekend means Chelsea can all but guarantee Champions League qualification by beating fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur at home tonight.
The Spaniard's goal, via a telling deflection off Phil Jones, lifted Chelsea three points above Spurs and means they will be virtually guaranteed a place in next season's Champions League if they defeat their London rivals.
The win over United was Chelsea's 65th game of the season, but with Champions League qualification at stake and a Europa League final against Benfica still to come, Mata says there is simply not enough time for mental fatigue to creep in.
"Three points [at Old Trafford] is amazing, because now we are in third position. If we win against Tottenham, we will be in the Champions League," he said following Sunday's match.
"Mentally you don't have time to disconnect. We play Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday, so mentally you are always focused.