Written By Andy Jones (@TheRamblingHam)
Wembley will host 8000 fans on Sunday as Tottenham Hotspurs take on serial winners Manchester City in the League Cup final – almost two months later than scheduled.
The North London club unceremoniously pushed Jose Mourinho out the back door this week, just 6-days prior to the club’s first final since losing to Liverpool in the Champions League in 2019.
The Portugese manager will feel he deserved a chance to win the club’s first trophy in 13 years but the powers that be saw fit to move the ‘Special One’ on.
Spurs Chairman Daniel Levy quickly appointed from within, and new man Ryan Mason will seek to be the youngest manager to win the trophy in just his second game in charge of the North London club.
The 29-year-old Englishman was forced to retire from playing early after fracturing his skull in a Premier League tie with Chelsea during his inaugural season with new club Hull in 2017.
Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan have also stepped up to the plate this year, the former has been in inspiring form throughout the campaign weaving his trickery and skill on the right flank while Gundogan has been clinical in front of goal – netting 16 times in all competitions.
Another positive is City’s defence. 17 clean-sheets in the Premier League is one of the reasons the Manchester club will most likely claim another Premier League title, and the arrival of the Portuguese has also seen his compatriot Joao Cancelo flourish at full-back, but England’s John Stones will miss the final after seeing red at Villa Park.
Predicted Line Ups
Tottenham: Lloris; Reguillon, Aurier, Dier, Alderweirald; Winks, Hojbjerg; Bale, Ndombele, Son; Kane (4-2-3-1)
Man City: Ederson; Zinchenko, Cancelo, Dias, Laporte; Rodri, Gundogan, Silva; Mahrez, Foden, Jesus (4-3-3)