What winning the Carabao Cup would mean to Tottenham
By Gary Pearson
Tottenham haven’t won a trophy since 2008, so beating Manchester City in the Carabao Cup Final on Sunday would represent so much more than simply winning the League Cup.
Everyone is fully aware of the Carabao Cup’s reputation in England. It’s the forgotten cup, England’s inferior domestic knockout competition. It pales in comparison to the FA Cup’s importance.
But don’t let that convince you that Sunday’s final doesn’t matter, because it does, and in a massive way. It’s a monumental moment any time you have the opportunity to play England’s top team in a final, especially when you consider the rest of Tottenham’s underwhelming, underperforming campaign.
In a season with more negatives than a bunch of electrons drinking together at a party, the prospect of a cup final provides a chance to take something positive from the campaign. The excitement and apprehension is considerably amplified when taking into account the last time Spurs achieved cup glory.
It’s been 13 years long, frustrating years. No current player was part of Tottenham’s 2008 League Cup win over Chelsea, so winning on Sunday would mark a monumental achievement in the lads’ careers.
It will give them a taste for winning, hopefully turning them into a predatory shoal, like bull sharks in blood-infested water.
The current group is, but for a few members, completely devoid of trophy winners, particularly at club level. So winning this match can be used not only as a confidence booster, but also as a platform from which to springboard.
That winning pedigree is invaluable at this level, and celebrating as a collective could galvanize an entire team, spearheading them to other, more prestigious team honours. Defeating City might just be the most effective way of instilling a winning culture into the current crop of Spurs players.
Upending City would also mean Tottenham are still up for big matches. The club’s latest horrific record against top clubs suggests that Spurs are unable to conquer their big-match demons. To be one of the elite sides in England, you must be able to get up for the big matches and vanquish other top teams. A win against City would certainly help eradicate Tottenham’s current inferiority complex.