Tottenham ended a difficult run at Stamford Bridge with a disciplined display that combined confidence on the ball with aggression out of possession. A Mike Penders own goal put them ahead in the 77th minute before Mathys Tel’s late finish secured the points, with Chelsea also reduced to 10 men after Cole Palmer’s dismissal.
For Robertson, the manner of the victory mattered as much as the result. Tottenham had produced performances earlier in the season that he felt deserved more reward, and he saw the win over their London rivals as evidence of what the squad could achieve when its quality and conviction came together.
“Stamford Bridge is a difficult place to come and it always is for every team that comes here, and obviously it's a London derby and things like that so it adds to it but I just think the most pleasing thing was how we played, how we went about our business today.
“Everyone was outstanding and then you get the rewards for that and the result you deserve because it's not always happened this season. We've probably played better than what our results suggested and we got the result Monday and we wanted to really kick on from that.
“I think today was our best performance of the season.”
Robertson said Tottenham had approached the match believing they could take all three points, rather than allowing Chelsea’s home record or the occasion to shape their expectations.
“We believed in ourselves and I think that was key we cam here and believed we could get the result and I think we showed that from minute one.
“We were comfortable on the ball, we played through their high press, we were aggressive when we didn't have the ball and believed we'd come here and get the result and that's what we've been working on and trying to get through the whole changing room.
“It's just about the belief because we have the quality, I think nobody denies that when they look at the squad.”
The defender did not suggest tactics had suddenly become irrelevant. Instead, he felt the players had finally matched their preparation with the conviction needed to execute the plan under pressure.
“Of course, we've always been a good set up in terms of what we try and do and the different things we try and do in every single game. I think tactically, we've always been there but maybe the belief within it hasn't always been there.
“Thankfully it all pieced together today.”
Robertson was careful not to declare the win a turning point on its own. He said the next challenge was to repeat the standards shown against Chelsea and ensure the result became part of a sustained improvement.
“We've seen it today and I think that's all we can say just now because we hope that it is but it's up to us to go and do it now. I think today was exactly how the manager wants us to play in every single game.
“That's the benchmark now - it's just one-off performance we've done against Chelsea, sent our fans home happy and don't kick on. This is a benchmark and we have to keep pushing.”
For Tottenham, the victory was an important statement. Robertson’s message afterwards was equally clear: the performance only becomes meaningful if the team can build on it.