The last time Tottenham Hotspur were in the League Cup Final

Sunday is an exciting time for fans of two clubs as Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur face off in the 61st League Cup Final. For Tottenham Hotspur it is their ninth appearance overall in the finals, having won four and lost four of the previous eight. Tottenham last reached the League Cup final in 2015 under then Coach Mauricio Pochettino. Ironically, Jose Mourinho and Chelsea defeated Tottenham in that last visit, so what happened on that day and how can Tottenham learn from it?

How Tottenham Lost Last Time

The last League Cup Final Tottenham played was a very close affair where fortunate breaks and bounces made all the difference. The match was a classic Mourinho style match, where Chelsea was looking for a break while Tottenham dominated possession. Spurs had 63% of the possession that evening yet were outshot 15-13 by Chelsea, according to BBC.com statistics.

The match was close right up until the stroke of halftime when good fortune favored Chelsea. Christian Eriksen had hit the crossbar on a free-kick early in the first half and that was as close as either time had come as the game neared 45 minutes. It was a foul out on the wing in classic Tottenham style just before the half that did them in.

Willan’s cross flicked off the head of Danny Rose and then thudded off Eric Dier into the path of John Terry. Terry blasted it off the leg of Dier and past Hugo Lloris for the lead just past 44 minutes on the clock. What had to feel like a complete smash and grab as complete for Chelsea and they leveraged one big chance into some more.

Early in the second half, Chelsea again caught some good fortune and put the game away. Diego Costa got in on the left by Kyle Walker seemed to have him contained. Costa blasted a cross or shot – it really does not matter which – toward the middle of the goalmouth, but the ball deflected off Walker past Lloris near post.

Just 10 minutes into the second half the dream was over for Tottenham. While they had a lot of names that are likely familiar like Kyle Walker, Hugo Lloris, Christian Eriksen, Ryan Mason, Nacer Chadli, and Harry Kane. However, none of those players were really vocal leaders yet as young players. Nabil Bentaleb and Ryan Mason – the starting midfield pivot – were both fresh out of the academy.

That team was susceptible to a more experienced coach and team and in the end, were not beaten as much as they lost.

What can Tottenham learn from that loss?

That final loss in 2015 as well as the Champions League Final loss in 2019 were both learning experiences for Tottenham Hotspur. In 2015 the team was full of kids who needed that early goal to get over the more experienced Chelsea side. Then in 2019 the high from the monumental win in Amsterdam came crashing down to Earth early as a handball and penalty kick gave Liverpool a lead they would never relinquish.

Today is 2021 and the players who were too young and then caught out in the moment are now experienced professionals that can say they have been here before. Despite the fact new coach Ryan Mason has not coached in a final, he has played in one and there is enough experience in the team to get by.

The point is the same little breaks that beat those previous Tottenham sides will not beat this side. I understand the season has been difficult but so much is riding on this match that the team simply has to step up. So the first thing we should feel good about with this team from those previous occasions is that the moment is not going to be too big for them.

Anything can happen in a cup final

Ultimately, the big takeaway should be that anything can happen in a cup final. Chelsea were the runaway league champions that season, as Manchester City are this season, but it took two flukey goals for them to win. There is no reason to think that cannot happen to us.

As fans, as a team, as a club we have been through so much, it has not all been for nothing. Those previous losses, the struggles this season, it was all meant to bring Tottenham to this point. Sure the League Cup is not the most glamorous of trophies but this team needs to start with one and Sunday is that time and Tottenham is that team. Anything can happen when we dare.