HERE is an omen Spurs fans can get properly excited about — its name is Jose Mourinho.
For more than a decade, these eternal optimists from North London have been desperately searching for a sign that they might actually win something.
Ben Davies restored Tottenham’s lead with 20 minutes remainingCredit: Reuters
Harry Kane made it 3-1 late onCredit: Reuters
It has made it a bit embarrassing that each time they have appeared close, Arsenal somehow stumbled their way to lifting the FA Cup.
But Mourinho was catapulted into White Hart Lane to win trophies and now Spurs really have a reason to believe this could be their year.
The season will even end with the number one, which used to guarantee a pot — until their post-war run ended in 2001.
Despite being annoyed with Dele Alli, Mourinho saw his team overcome a cold and wet night in the Potteries to deservedly beat Stoke in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.
For the Portuguese coach, next month’s one-off shoot-out will be his fifth League Cup semi-final. In the previous four, he has gone on to win the trophy.
Tottenham have not won any silverware since the League Cup in 2008 but were drawn with Brentford.
And Mourinho said: “To win this trophy, we need to win two matches.
“But, of course, it will be two very difficult matches.
“Brentford, for me, do not play like a Championship side but more like Premier League. We are in the semi-finals to fight.”
Tottenham certainly have a better chance of winning the Carabao Cup than the Premier League.
It was massively important that after a poor set of results, namely a draw with Crystal Palace and losses to Liverpool and Leicester, Spurs avoided following Newcastle out of the tournament.
And despite making life difficult for themselves in the second half, there was still only one quality team in this with Harry Winks and Dele — until playing a part in Stoke’s leveller — both impressing.
Spurs were left fuming by Stoke’s equaliserCredit: PA:Press Association
Stoke equalised with their first shot on goalCredit: Reuters
Gareth Bale fired Spurs into a first-half leadCredit: AP:Associated Press
On current form, it seems unlikely Tottenham will be jumping at the chance of extending Gareth Bale’s loan to a second season.
But he made the most of his start by grabbing the opening goal.
This meant he scored in successive League Cup appearances, although they just happened to be eight years apart — the previous effort was in a 2-1 loss away to Norwich.
Keeper Andy Lonergan, 37, was playing his first competitive game since appearing for Rochdale in League One in March 2019 and he made some decent saves. But there was not a lot he could do about Bale’s opener.
Winks expertly lifted the ball over the home defence and Bale, with his back to goal, turned and guided his header into the corner.
Dele Alli was handed a rare startCredit: Getty Images – Getty
There was no night off for Harry KaneCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Making his first start for a month, Dele had a couple of good chances, and Stoke resorted to some cynical challenges on the midfielder
But he blotted his copy book by losing possession, Stoke attacked and Jacob Brown crossed for Jordan Thompson to score at the far post.
Spurs’ second goal came from Ben Davies, who seized on a clearance by taking one touch before striking it sweetly from 25 yards. Son Heung-min had a perfectly good goal ruled out for offside, which would have been allowed had there been VAR.
Harry Kane sealed the win with a finish into the roof of the net — and Spurs were through.
For Mourinho, he can smell yet another trophy. And in this situation, we all know what happens next.
Considering his record in the League Cup, it would actually be more surprising if he failed to win it.
Stoke vs Tottenham – Watch LIVE, channel info and kick-off time
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
