MICAH'S MOMENTS: Losing to Tottenham could carry a blessing for Chelsea

Chelsea have had some bad defeats this season but, looking at the bigger picture, losing to Tottenham could carry a blessing. If they want to start progressing as a club again, they would be better off out of Europe next year.

There is no chance of them qualifying for the Champions League, getting into the Europa League by finishing fifth or sixth looks a step too far as well, and there is nothing to be gained from being in the Europa Conference League.

I worry that Graham Potter won’t get a chance to make things work. But if he could get to the summer and clear out the individuals who clearly don’t respect him and start working with the ones who do after a proper pre-season, things will settle down.

It was disgusting to hear Potter’s revelation that he had received abuse as results have slipped. The expectation from fans for their teams to be constantly winning, year after year, is at odds with the reality of the game but the noise they make when times are testing makes owners anxious — and managers vulnerable.

Todd Boehly, evidently, wants to be loved and he will also want a return on his colossal spending. He has definitely been the driving force behind recruitment, though how Chelsea are so short of goals is baffling. Is it down to not buying a striker or is it on how the team are playing?

One thing Potter was criticised for at Brighton was that his team didn’t score enough and Chelsea never looked like scoring at Tottenham on Sunday. They looked like a team going through the motions, but this has happened at the club before and they have come back stronger.

With a clear run next year, working from weekend to weekend on the training ground, Potter might yet be the man to fulfil Boehly’s vision. He has to find a way of hanging on to the end of this season.

Rico Lewis' emergence reminds me of my own journey

Finally, they have done it: after years of trying, Manchester City have produced a right back from their academy who can play football!

My best wishes to Rico Lewis, whose game intelligence blows me away. I love watching him, always on the half-turn, waiting to receive possession and playing with confidence. His football brain is incredible and the longer he works with Pep Guardiola, the better he will be.

His emergence reminds me of my own journey and I’m a little envious of him. I’ll forever be grateful to Stuart Pearce for giving me a chance but if I had a time machine, I would set it so I could spend a week working under Guardiola. What an opportunity this is for Lewis.

Vincent Kompany was born to coach

Spending time in a dressing room with Vincent Kompany, it was clear he was either going to be a manager or a professor when he finished playing. He was obsessive with his attention to detail, meticulous with his preparation.

I’m not surprised Burnley are flying as I knew he’d succeed. He also has an outstanding right-hand man in Craig Bellamy.

What a shame I never met Motty

Match of the Day started on Saturday with a tribute to John Motson. After it had ended — and before the first game was shown — I had to ask Gary Lineker one question: ‘What was he like?’

For all the years I have been in football, I never crossed paths with him once and I will forever regard that as a shame. Whatever industry you work in, you aspire to meet the best and when I moved into broadcasting, I wanted to speak with him to get some pointers. He was, simply, the voice of the game.