Carabao Cup

IT SEEMED like Tottenham were dusted before their Carabao Cup clash with Chelsea even began. 
Jose Mourinho delivered a glum pre-match press conference pretty much ruling out their chances – then again he told reporters he was playing without a striker altogether, not even using a false nine. 

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Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount reflects on missing the final spot-kick as Spurs reached the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with a 5-4 shootout winCredit: Reuters

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Boss Frank Lampard dishes out instructions as he saw Chelsea KO’d after they failed to take advantage of their huge first-half supremacy Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

This is a typical sulk from the former Chelsea boss, who is angry about a congested fixture period and injuries to some of his key players. 
Of course, this was an issue for him and his team, but I wasn’t expecting such a negative and pessimistic approach to the first half from them. 
Chelsea are used to teams sitting off and defending in numbers hoping to contain them whilst allowing them the lion’s share of possession.

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But this is usually lower league sides who face up to Chelsea like this, not a Mourinho-lead Tottenham. 

Frank Lampard’s men had the run of Tottenham Hotspur stadium for the first 45 minutes but Spurs came out a different animal in the second half. 
Chelsea largely dominated possession, with Timo Werner notching his first goal for the club with a 19th-minute opener.
Yet this is where Lampard failed.
Chelsea had enough chances to put the game to bed and should have whilst they smelt blood – but once again they didn’t take their opportunities. 

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Germany striker Timo Werner hits the opener with his first goal for ChelseaCredit: AP:Associated Press

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New Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy keeps out this shot from Spurs winger Erik Lamela, who later took the game to a shootoutCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Tottenham came out fighting in the second period, playing a much higher line, and it was their turn to dominate and threaten Chelsea’s goal.
Which would surely make Spurs fans wonder, why did they not set up like this from the off? 
It was almost like Mourinho didn’t realise he cared about the game until half time. 
Spurs got their deserved equaliser when Erik Lamela swept home on 83 minutes, taking the contest to penalties.

Chelsea had no idea how to deal with Spurs coming at them in the second half, having wasted chances to put the game to bed.

But Chelsea really shouldn’t have even let it get that far. 
The Blues played with a real intensity to get the ball back when they didn’t have possession in the first half, but failed to show that same intensity when attacking with the ball. 
Apart from Callum Hudson-Odoi, nobody was really trying to take the game to Tottenham when they were absolutely there for the taking in the first half. 

Chelsea ended the game once again as their own worst enemies.
They had no idea how to deal with Spurs coming at them in the second half, having wasted their chances to put the game to bed before that.
And it was Tottenham who sneaked through, winning the shootout 5-4 as Blues’ England midfielder Mason Mount missed the TENTH kick.

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HE was serious, all right, Old Sulky Chops in the Tottenham dugout.
Jose Mourinho might have claimed he was going to jock off the Carabao Cup due to Tottenham’s acute fixture congestion.

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Tottenham won a penalty shootout against Chelsea to reach the Carabao Cup quartersCredit: Reuters

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Mason Mount missed the crucial penalty in the shootoutCredit: Reuters

But he sent out an experienced Tottenham team, who produced an outstanding second-half performance, equalised late and won a tense, silent penalty shoot-out when Mason Mount missed the decisive spot-kick for Chelsea.
Spurs had been offered the shortest ever route to a major Wembley final – just three wins required after Leyton Orient’s sicknote earned them a bye in the third round.
And if you believed Mourinho they weren’t even going to have a serious go at defeating Chelsea.
But don’t you ever believe the Portuguese rascal. This was vintage Mourinho – rope-a-dope defending followed by a strong finish.

It was a bitter blow for Chelsea boss Frank Lampard, whose side lost the FA Cup Final to Arsenal last month and have blown another trophy shot already.
With Maccabi Haifa coming up in the Europa League on Thursday, Mourinho has been having a public tizzy about fixture chaos and an apparent lack of resources, which continued in his pre-match TV interview.
“Who is going to play up front? Nobody. We don’t have anybody,” he scowled.
Although Harry Kane was on the bench, along with Lucas Moura, who scored a Champions League semi-final hat-trick last year – and both were sent on in the final stages to score shootout penalties.

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Harry Kane came off the bench to inspire his side to victoryCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

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It was Jose Mourinho’s first win against Frank Lampard as managerCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Even with nine changes this was always a line-up capable of getting a result – Mourinho’s squad is not as shallow as he sometimes makes out.
Sergio Reguilon, the less-heralded of Tottenham’s two recent acquisitions from Real Madrid, had an eventful full debut at left-back – at fault for Timo Werner’s first Chelsea’s goal but creating Erik Lamela’s equaliser.
Chelsea boss Lampard knows Mourinho’s mind games better than most and insisted he was not fooled by them.
Lampard had won all three of his previous meetings with his one-time mentor – a league double over Spurs last season and a victory with Derby against Mourinho’s Manchester United in this competition.
The Chelsea boss gave a debut to keeper Edouard Mendy and a first start to Ben Chilwell.
And after 18 minutes of Chelsea passing the ball to and fro, into midfield and backwards again, with more than 80 per cent possession, the visitors scored.

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Timo Werner opened the scoring in north LondonCredit: PA:Press Association

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It was the German’s first competitive goal since his summer move from RB LeipzigCredit: Reuters
It was a disaster for Reguilon who lost the ball to Azpilicueta in midfield and when the Chelsea skipper received it back from Callum Hudson-Odoi, the Spurs debutant was sent to the nachos stand by Azpilicueta doing little more than standing still.
Azpilicueta had the time to square to Werner, who rammed past Hugo Lloris.
Spurs then seemed to decide that having the football might help and soon almost equalised.
With Chelsea’s defence having one of their customary Nanna naps, Gedson Fernandes snuck in behind Kurt Zouma, who produced an excellent recovery tackle in the last ditch.
Then, a wonderful little touchline spat between the two managers – a stoppage in play annoyed Mourinho, who started at fourth official Andre Marriner.
When Lampard became involved, Mourinho gave him ‘the lobster’ – the two yapping hands signal.

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Erik Lamela grabbed a late equaliser for SpursCredit: AP:Associated Press

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The Argentine impressed as a false nine for the hostsCredit: Reuters
He then suggested that when Chelsea were 3-0 down at West Brom on Saturday, the Blues boss had been conspicuously absent from his technical area.
Whatever happened to the old bromance? That famous shower scene, when Jose told a naked Frank he was the dog’s conkers.
In truth, there has been little love between them since Lampard left Mourinho’s Chelsea, apparently for Major League Soccer, only to turn up at Manchester City.
Spurs were discovering impetus and Erik Lamela, one of Mourinho’s two ‘false nines’, performed a neat swivel and a shot which Mendy saved with his legs.
Spurs started the second half like a train and Reguilon came close to making amends when Aurier picked him out in space, yet Mendy pushed the Spaniard’s drive over the bar.
The Senegalese certainly looks an upgrade on Kepa Arrizabalaga – though perhaps not as good as the last keeper Chelsea signed from Rennes, Petr Cech.

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Mount had to be consoled by Tammy Abraham after his shootout missCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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Spurs now await the quarter final draw after getting a bye in the third round against Leyton OrientCredit: PA:Press Association
With Spurs swarming, Steven Bergwijn – Mourinho’s second ‘falsie’ – went close and then had a decent penalty shout against Ben Chilwell turned down by Lee Mason.
Without VAR, they all just got on with playing football – and where’s the fun in that?
With 20 minutes remaining, Mourinho sent on Kane and switched to a flat back four, in the closest he ever gets to tossing caution to the breeze.
But it was Chelsea sub N’Golo Kane who made an instant impact winning the tackle of the night high up the pitch, allowing Werner to test Lloris with a stinging shot.
With Spurs having used al three subs, Eric Dier suddenly dashed down the tunnel – presumably for a loo break – with Mourinho in hot pursuit and Lloris yelling ‘what the **** is going on?’
But with Dier restored, Spurs continued to press and they grabbed a deserved equaliser on 84 minutes, Reguilon teasing his way down the left and centring for Lamela to prod home with Kurt Zouma and Emerson seemingly switched off.
Then the penalties – nine perfect efforts, followed by Mount hitting the outside of the post, with Mourinho cavorting straight down the tunnel in euphoria.

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OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER could make up to TEN changes for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup clash with Brighton.
The Manchester United boss gave his side a major shake-up for the third-round victory at Luton last week.

Manchester United could line up like this when they take on Brighton in the Carabao Cup

And following the dramatic 3-2 win at the Amex on Saturday, he is expected to mix things up again on the south coast.
Captain Harry Maguire loves to play every match and may well provide the only continuity from the weekend by retaining his spot in the heart of defence.
He looks on course to partner Eric Bailly with Victor Lindelof struggling to find his best form just yet.
The Ivorian came in at Luton and put in a dominant display against the Championship outfit.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka has got more minutes under his belt so the cup clash could give Solskjaer the chance to play Timothy Fosu-Mensah at right-back.
Brandon Williams is set to complete the defence by replacing Luke Shaw on the left.
Dean Henderson made his first-team debut at Kenilworth Road in the previous round and is expected to come back in once again between the sticks after David De Gea retained his league spot.
Further forward, Fred should retain his cup place after his display at Luton – although Scott McTominay is another option as the most defensive of the midfielders.

There are plenty of options for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for the trip to the Amex, especially in midfield

Alongside him Donny van de Beek is expected to be given another run out from the start after coming off the bench at the weekend.
Andreas Pereira was pictured in training as he continues to be linked with a move away to Lazio and a start at Brighton could prove his last chance to impress.
Juan Mata, who could reportedly be on the same flight to Italy with Pereira, scored from the penalty spot a week ago to set United on their way and could be rewarded with another start.
Jesse Lingard is fighting for his future at Old Trafford and made a good impression last week.
The academy graduate may get another chance at Brighton while Daniel James and Odion Ighalo – both left out of the squad at the weekend – could come into the starting XI.
However, the impact Mason Greenwood, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford had off the bench at Luton could see Solskjaer opt to start them from the start.
Rashford scored in emphatic style to put United ahead at Brighton last time out before Fernandes kept his cool with a 100th-minute penalty to win the game.

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