Cesar Azpilicueta’s statement, Mason Mount’s need for rest and Chelsea’s silverware problem

Let’s be realistic: five games into the season and Chelsea have halved their number of good chances of winning silverware. The Premier League already seems unattainable, the Champions League will always be a tall order and the FA Cup clearly remains winnable.

Those limited opportunities explained why Lampard named such a strong team last night and the disappointment at the end of a shootout in which Tottenham were clinical was clear.

Jorginho and Kovacic does not work

This was a game in which many of Chelsea’s familiar problems were blindingly obvious.

Not only was Emerson’s decision to go walkabout an individual defensive error to add to a long, long list, there was a real lack of cutting edge.

Much of that can be explained by the passive double pivot of Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic, both very pleasing on the eye but too safe for games in which the opposition sit back.

It was an issue that was prominent for much of last season and back with a vengeance here.

Chelsea controlled the ball but they registered only seven attempts – three coming in four first half minutes and none between the 18th and 58th.

There was far too much passing for passing’s sake, going back and fort without much service to what should have been a potent front three of Timo Werner, Olivier Giroud and Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Azpilicueta’s statement

On a night of few positives, the captain was very good at right back and, for the most part, offered a defensive nous that Reece James still lacks.

The younger man is a real asset in attack but considering the team’s defensive struggles, does Azpilicueta deserve a first Premier League start against Crystal Palace on Saturday lunchtime?

Azpilicueta’s highlight was undoubtedly his turn in the lead up to Timo Werner’s goal, sending Sergio Reguilon into another postcode, but his dependability without the ball was clear to see.