Mourinho’s success within the Carabao Cup has Tottenham dreaming of larger prizes

Jose Mourinho has type for utilizing the EFL Cup as a catalyst for larger successes. It was the primary silverware he gained in every of his two spells with Chelsea in 2005 and 2015, and his maiden trophy with Manchester United a 12 months later. Each golf equipment went on to higher issues, and Mourinho will now be focusing on the identical after a 2-Zero win over Brentford sealed Tottenham Hotspur’s place within the Carabao Cup last and an opportunity to finish the membership’s 13-year await main honours.

Mourinho, in fact, has by no means been judged primarily on his file on this competitors. Chelsea and United perennially wish to compete for Premier League and Champions League glory, and equally Spurs’ main stars won’t have their urge for food sated solely by profitable English football’s least vital competitors.

Nevertheless it feels a very large hurdle for Tottenham given the burden of historical past on their shoulders. Mauricio Pochettino achieved all the pieces apart from a trophy in his 5 and a half years on the membership, and chairman Daniel Levy gambled on changing him with Mourinho for one purpose above all others: he wins issues.

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This 90 minutes was shut to a different archetypal Mourinho show, comparatively freed from the “Spursy” moments which have contributed to eight successive FA Cup semifinal defeats. Their file on this competitors is healthier, having gained two of their three semis since lifting the trophy in 2008 and there may be at all times the superstition about “When the 12 months Ends In One,” a tune the membership launched to have fun reaching the FA Cup last in 1991. They gained the trophy that 12 months, simply as they lifted silverware in 1901, 1921, 1951, 1961, 1971 and 1981.

There was a lot to concern the house aspect earlier than kickoff with Brentford arriving as Championship excessive flyers and conquerors of 4 Premier League sides already to achieve this level. But Mourinho bought the early purpose his tactical strategy favours, Moussa Sissoko planting a 12th-minute header previous Brentford goalkeeper David Raya from Sergio Reguilon’s pinpoint cross.

Spurs may then prioritise staying compact whereas selecting off Brentford on the break. The sport was comparatively incident free — simply as Mourinho would welcome — earlier than VAR dominated out Ivan Toney’s purpose halfway by the second half and Son Heung-Min raced clear to double Tottenham’s benefit seven minutes later.

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The presence of Son and Harry Kane in Mourinho’s beginning lineup was proof he left nothing to probability — Brentford’s risk was ended within the 84th minute when Josh Dasilva was despatched off for a problem on Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg missing malice but in addition management as he appeared to slide altering path — and that was exactly due to the impression he is aware of this competitors can have. The ultimate is historically in February, offering teams with an early fillip fortifying them for different challenges, however in Tottenham’s case it could shatter a glass ceiling that has thickened over time whereas additional vindicating Levy’s considerably controversial appointment of Mourinho.

He has repeatedly talked about altering this squad’s mentality, discovering a psychological resilience that may allow them to problem the easiest.

“In case you see the winners, you realise that the large golf equipment, they wish to win it,” Mourinho stated after the match. “Who was the final winner other than the traditional prime six? Swansea? I do not know as a result of I am not excellent on stats however I bear in mind Man Metropolis profitable plenty of instances, I bear in mind Chelsea profitable plenty of instances, I bear in mind United profitable just a few instances, I bear in mind Liverpool in finals, I do not know in the event that they gained it just lately however I bear in mind Liverpool in finals, Arsenal … so the large golf equipment, they care about it. They care about it. No doubts. And the ultimate says rather a lot: Tottenham in opposition to Manchester United or Tottenham in opposition to Man Metropolis.

“I got here to England in 2004 and I bear in mind in that interval I needed to be taught the which means of the cups right here, and I at all times took it significantly. If there may be any secret, it is to at all times take it significantly and respect the teams with smaller high quality and go along with ambition. What I sense within the team is that profitable mentality. The fellows took it significantly.

Dan Thomas is joined by Craig Burley, Shaka Hislop and others to deliver you the most recent highlights and debate the most important storylines. Stream on Football4cast+ (U.S. solely).