Jose Mourinho & Andre Villas-Boas must focus on rebuilding jobs

The frost could be felt in the air and seen in the lukewarm handshake between the pair as the Spurs manager made a sharp right out of the tunnel to greet the manager with whom he had shared past success before both men went their separate ways – Villas-Boas claiming Mourinho denied him a role with more responsibility at Inter.

No smiles. No talk. Simply enforced formalities.

There was more warmth at the conclusion of a frantic 1-1 draw – and the reality is that both have more important matters to focus their minds than a fractured personal relationship as this season takes shape.

Villas-Boas and Mourinho, for differing reasons, preside over sides in transition and this 90 minutes will have crystallised those thoughts in their minds.

Spurs, driven by the invention of Christian Eriksen, dominated the first half and it was the Dane’s pace and subtlety that helped set up the early goal for Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Chelsea, invigorated by the introduction of substitute Juan Mata at the start of the second half, restored balance after that and deserved the point John Terry’s header – from the Spaniard’s free-kick – gave them.

Villas-Boas and Mourinho declared themselves happy with the point, although referee Mike Dean’s decision to send off Fernando Torres late on contained an element of farce.

Torres and Spurs defender Jan Vertonghen appeared to be conducting a relationship based on that between Villas-Boas and Mourinho during a spiteful second half.

Chelsea’s striker was fortunate not to be sent off after being booked for tripping the Belgian before clawing at his face.

When he did go, with nine minutes left, it was after a routine aerial challenge in which nothing happened. Torres’ subsequent mystified expression was justified, although sympathy was tempered by his earlier reprieve.

Mourinho says “the project is beautiful” at Chelsea, external but some results may be ugly. This scoreline was a lot prettier for the Portuguese than it threatened to be at half-time.