Chelsea, Spurs battle for League Cup glory
Tottenham Hotspur's English striker Harry Kane (right) celebrates with the crowd after scoring during their English Premier League match against Arsenal at White Hart Lane in London, on February 7, 2015. PHOTO | IAN KINGTON |
What you need to know:
- Mourinho seeks to win first trophy of his second spell at Stamford Bridge
- Pochettino’s side have since gone four games without victory
- Victory at Wembley on Sunday will bring Mourinho full circle
LONDON
Inspired by their stunning 5-3 demolition of Chelsea on New Year’s Day, Tottenham Hotspur will attempt to spoil Jose Mourinho’s love affair with the League Cup in Sunday’s final.
Chelsea have enjoyed the upper hand over their London rivals in recent years, but a run of 10 matches without defeat came to an abrupt halt at a giddy White Hart Lane on January 1 as a Tottenham side inspired by 21-year-old breakthrough star Harry Kane ran amok.
Victory at Wembley on Sunday will bring Mourinho full circle, as the 2004-05 League Cup was the first trophy he won during his first stint as Chelsea manager, but his Tottenham counterpart Mauricio Pochettino says Spurs will approach the game with no sense of inferiority.
“We got this victory against Chelsea on January 1 and it is important for belief,” said the Argentine, who hopes to end a seven-year trophy drought stretching back to Spurs’ win over Chelsea in the 2008 League Cup final.
“If you saw the game, our performance was nearly perfect and we played very well. We need to repeat the same performance to come close to winning the trophy. “It is true there have been many years without a trophy, so this is a very good chance to give the club another.”
While Spurs remain in contention for Champions League qualification, their form has diminished since a brace from Kane secured a memorable 2-1 win over derby rivals Arsenal at the start of the month.
LOSING STREAK
Pochettino’s side have since gone four games without victory, culminating in Thursday’s error-strewn 2-0 loss away to Fiorentina, which curtailed their involvement in the Europa League.
Chelsea’s form has also fluctuated, with a 1-1 draw at home to Burnley last weekend enabling Manchester City to trim their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points.
Mourinho’s 2005 League Cup final success proved the precursor to glory in the league — the first of back-to-back titles — but he is unwilling to view the competition merely as a catalyst for success elsewhere.
“Since I arrived in July 2013, it’s the first time I don’t think about the future of this club,” said the Portuguese, who is seeking to win the first trophy of his second spell at Stamford Bridge.
“It’s the only moment where I just think about the moment. I don’t think about the future.”
