Tottenham have ace up their sleeves for Carabao Cup Final

Jose Mourinho has won 12 of 15 finals during his illustrious managerial career, a stat that bodes extremely well for Tottenham’s Carabao Cup aspirations. 

It’s his first taste of a final since joining Tottenham over a year ago, and the Special One will be clamouring to get one over on Pep Guardiola, who also has a distinguished record in cup finals.

Mourinho’s 80 percent winning record in cup finals is a sublime tally most managers can’t even comprehend.

But somehow, miraculously some would say, Pep pips Mourinho on this particular stat. Pep has won 10 of 11 cup finals, an astoundingly good 91 percent winning ratio. However, Mourinho won’t fear facing his arch nemesis at Wembley in April. The Carabao Cup Final provides a platform to enter the annals of Hotspur history by becoming the first manager in 13 years to lift silverware with the north London side.

Even more impressive, Jose has an unblemished record in League Cup finals in England, winning all four of his final appearances. Pep is also perfect in League Cup finals, winning in all three appearances.

Of Jose’s three cup final losses, only one — an FA Cup Final loss as Manchester United boss — has come as manager of an English side. He won five of six cup finals as manager of Manchester United and Chelsea. Say what you will about Jose, but he knows how to get his squad over the line, especially in matches where silverware is on the line. It’s precisely the reason Daniel Levy had Jose in his crosshairs.

You might unwittingly remember that Jose was in charge of the Chelsea side that upset Tottenham in the 2015 League Cup Final. With Tottenham are on the cusp of ending their much-scrutinized trophy-less drought, at least now he’s patrolling Spurs dugout.

Knowing Jose the way we do, I imagine he’s thrilled at the chance to battle the other world’s best manager in a final. That way he can add to his trophy cabinet in the most historic, laudable and Jose way.