You just feel like punching the ground

After our victory over Fulham, and of course the first round leg against Chelsea, and we did beat them in the league, we were up for it.

Spirits were high. I chatted to everybody before the game, and everything and everybody felt positive. The Final was ours for the taking. City didn’t hold any fears for us, and certainly not Chelsea.
If we had won this match, this would be the fourth in a row that we’ve beaten Chelsea. So, what can go wrong?

The day started off cold, but a positive feeling always warms you up. We arrived at the stadium with huge cheers from our supporters. So the fans were feeling the vibes as well.
The usual pep talk, out for a warm-up, back in and then out to a firey welcome. Chelsea had put on a fireworks display for all. Even though there was a crowd of 38,610, our fans were dwarfed, but you still could hear their voices above Chelsea’s.

Once they scored after 27 minutes the atmosphere changed, then elven minutes later they got two (the score was 2-1 on agg). Second half Llorente got a goal back to give us renewed hope. But it wasn’t enough; no extra time, no away goal, just a penalty shootout.

As you would know, Kane, Alli and Son would almost certainly have been involved in the penalty shootout for us, had they been available, and would have scored. The night could have ended differently.
In fairness, we looked menacing in the second half after being distinctly second best for large parts of the opening 45 minutes. Substitute Rose was lively and provided the ammunition for Llorente to haul us back on level terms on aggregate.

In the end, it came down to fine margins with Dier and Moura’s missed penalties proving costly for us, as we were hunting – expecting – our first major trophy since 2008.

The players walked off dejected, we all were down. What could have been, what should have been, but wasn’t.

The ride back was a lonely affair as we all disappeared into ourselves.

Fans criticise Llorente, but Fernando has scored eight goals in his last five starts for Tottenham in all competitions. But it wasn’t just down to him, it is a team game, and all must shake their heads in disappointment. We lost, now we must move on to new pastures. Just around the corner, we face Palace in the FA Cup, followed by Watford, Newcastle, Burnley and, you guessed it, Chelsea. Life can be a bastard, but that spine chilling feeling can be turned into a positive. These games I have just mentioned are all winnable, yes, including Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The atmosphere amongst the players must be revenge.
Yes we haven’t got Son, Alli and Kane, but we are still a good side, a fighting side and a side that wants to win trophies. We’ve got so much to look forward to; we mustn’t let a little blip disrupt our flow.

Yes, be positive in an atmosphere of sorrow, pain and sadness… but like the Phoenix, we shall rise and rise stronger.

Onwards and upwards as somebody once said. But you are probably thinking at this moment in time “Infamy! Infamy! They’ve all got it in for me!” Not at all, think positive, after all our motto is “Audere Est Facere” (to dare is to do).