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      Tottenham’s 2007/08 League Cup winning XI and where they are now as Spurs chase first trophy in 13 years

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      TOTTENHAM’S wait for a piece of silverware has now stretched to 13 YEARS.
      It was on this day in 2008 that Juande Ramos led Spurs to the League Cup thanks to a 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Wembley.

      This is the Tottenham starting XI that won the League Cup in 2008, 13 years ago

      The Spurs players celebrate their 2-1 win over London rivals Chelsea at WembleyCredit: AFP

      Didier Drogba put the Blues in front with a free-kick before Dimitar Berbatov’s penalty sent the game into extra-time.
      Jonathan Woodgate grabbed the winner when Petr Cech punched the ball in from Jermaine Jenas’ free-kick into the defender’s head and it rebounded in.
      Harry Redknapp, Andre Villas-Boas, Tim Sherwood and Mauricio Pochettino all came and went without a trophy.
      Current Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho is desperate to end the long drought – and will be eyeing April’s Carabao Cup final against Manchester City or the Europa League as the perfect opportunities.

      But what happened to the Tottenham team that beat Avram Grant’s side?
      GK: Paul Robinson
      The former England goalkeeper won his only major trophy that day at Wembley, the year after the last of his 41 England caps.
      He had seven seasons at Blackburn before a two-year, three-appearance spell at Burnley then retired in 2017 and is now doing media work.
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      RB: Alan Hutton
      The Scottish right-back joined Aston Villa in 2011 but had loans to Nottingham Forest, Mallorca and Bolton.
      He played in the 2015 FA Cup final and scored a memorable goal against rivals Birmingham in 2018 before hanging up his boots a year ago to step into media, too.
      CB: Jonathan Woodgate
      Match-winner Woodgate left Spurs in 2011 to join Stoke before returning to Middlesbrough a year later.
      He ended his playing career in 2016 and, after a brief stint as a scout for Liverpool, went into coaching – he took over as Boro manager in 2019 and is now in charge at Bournemouth.
      CB: Ledley King
      Ramos’ skipper that day had his career blighted by injuries and retired as a one-club man in 2012.
      He joined Jose Mourinho’s backroom staff last summer and is trying to help the club end their long wait.

      The 2008 League Cup was the only trophy in Paul Robinson’s career – incredibly he managed more goalsCredit: AFP

      Now the Bournemouth manager, Woodgate grabbed the winning goal in extra-timeCredit: AFP
      LB: Pascal Chimbonda
      The one-cap French full-back left Spurs that summer for Sunderland but returned to White Hart Lane in 2009 for a short stint.
      He then had spells at eight clubs in ten years – including QPR and Doncaster as well as non-league Market Draydon Town and Ashton Town – before stopping in 2019.
      RM: Aaron Lennon
      One of the two members of that team still actively playing professional football is Lennon.
      He had ten seasons at the Lane before joining Everton in 2015, Burnley in 2017 and is now plying his trade at Kayserispor in Turkey aged 33.
      CM: Jermaine Jenas
      Like Hutton, Jenas headed to Villa Park, albeit on loan, in 2011 before a temporary spell at hometown club Nottingham Forest.
      He ended his injury-hit career with the 2013-14 season at QPR before stepping into punditry with BT Sport and Match of the Day – and may even be lined up to replace Gary Lineker as host one day.

      Aaron Lennon is still playing and currently turns out for Turkish side Kayserispor aged 33Credit: Getty Images – Getty

      Jermaine Jenas has stepped into his role as a pundit well since his premature retirementCredit: PA:Press Association
      CM: Didier Zakora
      Zakora spent one more season at Tottenham before joining Sevilla for two years.
      After that Ivory Coast’s most-capped player had spells in Turkey, India and Indonesia and is now assistant boss at AFAD Djekanou in his homeland.
      LM: Steed Malbranque
      Malbranque spent a decade in England, with his time at Tottenham sandwiched between Fulham and Sunderland.
      Like Lennon, he is still active at FC Limonest Saint-Didier in France at the tender age of 41.

      ST: Robbie Keane
      Keane enjoyed a glittering career which also included spells at Inter Milan, Leeds, Liverpool and Celtic before five years at LA Galaxy and finally with ATK in Kolkata.
      A 146-cap Irish legend, he had spells as an assistant manager with Ireland and Middlesbrough, working under team-mate Woodgate.
      ST: Dimitar Berbatov
      Arguably the best player of that Spurs XI was Berbatov, who went on to win two league titles, another League Cup and the Club World Cup with Manchester United.
      The two-time Premier League golden-boot winner featured for Fulham, Monaco, PAOK and Kerela Blasters until his retirement in 2019 – the Bulgarian is now a Betfair ambassador and working towards to get his Uefa Pro coaching licence.
      Manager: Juande Ramos
      Ramos was sacked just eight months later with a win ratio in the league of 29 per cent.
      Harry Redknapp replaced him while he managed to land the Real Madrid job before stints at CSKA Moscow, Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and Malaga.
      Younes Kaboul, Teemu Tainio and Tom Huddlestone came off the bench for Spurs that day while Radek Cerny and Darren Bent were unused subs.

      Robbie Keane celebrates at Wembley with his winner’s medal around his neckCredit: PA:Empics Sport

      Dimitar Berbatov made no mistake from the spot to equalise for SpursCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd

      Rio Ferdinand slams Tottenham after FA Cup loss to Everton More

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      Carabao Cup final could have fans as EFL target pilot events BEFORE coronavirus lockdown ends

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      THE Carabao Cup final could see fans welcomed to Wembley Stadium with the EFL targeting pilot events before the coronavirus lockdown ends.
      Earlier on Monday, Prime Minster Boris Johnson confirmed turnstiles will be reopened from May 17 after being closed for the second time in December.

      Fans could be welcomed back to Wembley for the Carabao Cup final on April 26, say the EFLCredit: PA:Press Association

      But the EFL are targeting a return for fans before even that and will work with the Government to make it happen.
      Wembley will play host to the Carabao Cup final between Manchester City and Tottenham on April 26.
      An EFL spokesperson said: “We note the Prime Minister’s announcement today in respect of a roadmap for easing national lockdown restrictions and the Government’s criteria for a phased return of fans to sporting events.
      “As has been our approach throughout the pandemic, the EFL wants to see supporters back in our stadia as soon as it is safe to do so.

      “We will continue to work with clubs, DCMS, the SGSA and local authorities to this end.
      “Following a successful fan pilot programme in the autumn, the EFL and member clubs have shown test events for fans can be safely delivered with the appropriate measures in place.
      “With the Carabao Cup final taking place on April 25 and the culmination of the EFL season on May 8/9, we look forward to engaging with the Government about its pilot programme.
      “We will be working to welcome as many fans as possible to the Sky Bet Play-Off Finals which will conclude the 2020-21 season on the Spring Bank Holiday weekend.”

      Prior to the EFL’s statement, the PM had told the House of Commons: “The turnstiles of our sports stadia will once again rotate, subject in all cases to capacity limits depending on the size of the venue.”
      That opens the prospect of supporters being in seats for the seven Euro 2020 games due to be played at Wembley, as well as Wimbledon.
      It would also allow race fans for the Epsom Derby and Royal Ascot in June.
      And supporters will get the chance to watch the England vs India Test series and the Open Championships at Royal St George’s.
      But, initially at least, numbers will be strictly limited.
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      When turnstiles do open, crowds will be restricted to a maximum of 10,000 or 25 per cent of capacity, whichever is the smaller.
      However, it is hoped that those numbers can be swiftly increased, with even the prospect of a 90,000 full house for the Euro 2020 Final on July 12.
      The PM confirmed larger events would be piloted ‘using enhanced testing, with the ambition of further easing of restrictions’.
      And, if all goes to plan, from June 21, the Government aims ‘to remove all legal limits on social contact’ to ‘enable large events above the limits of step three’ to take place. 
      The news is a welcome boost for supporters who have been forced to become stay at home fans for most of the past 11 months since the initial sporting shutdown last March.

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      Carabao Cup to be sacrificed with Prem’s top clubs to skip competition under new Champions League expansion plans

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      THE LEAGUE Cup will have to be sacrificed if the Prem wins a battle to change the Champions League revamp.
      Top-flight clubs agreed at their latest “shareholder” meeting on three points of contention with the latest Uefa-led plans for a 36-team competition from 2024.

      The Carabao Cup might fall victim to the expansion of the Champions League, if the Prem gets its way over group gamesCredit: PA:Empics Sport

      Current Premier League leaders Manchester City beat Aston Villa 2-1 in last season’s Carabao Cup finalCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      League chiefs will now go to Uefa seeking changes to the expansion to 225 games from 125 matches in the current competition, the access list limiting English football to five places and plans to extend the opening phase into the January each season.
      Premier League chiefs, instead, will argue that all the initial games – Uefa want 10 matches in the opening “Swiss model” single table phase – should be completed before Christmas, leaving January free for domestic action.
      But that will only be possible if teams in European action duck out of the League Cup, with the 20 clubs agreeing the future of the competition would have to be thrashed out and discussed as part of the new-look calendar.
      The agreement at least avoided any of the anticipated contention between the clubs, although issues have not gone away with a number of the smaller teams unhappy at the involvement of the Big Six.

      All of the Big Six are members of the influential European Club Association, whose chief executive, Charlie Marshall, gave his backing for the Uefa scheme.
      Speaking at the FT Business of Football Summit, he said: “More European matches are important in the development of football. 
      “These plans are bang in the centre of where we are coming from and we don’t see causes for alarm, which seems to be hysteria and reactionism.”
      And the Uefa plans were given a further boost by Simon Green, head of current Champions League and Europa League broadcaster BT Sport, who savaged the competing proposals for a new closed shop European Super League.

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      Green said: “Of course a European Super League would be extremely appealing to broadcasters but it would not be worth as much as the existing leagues and Champions League are at the moment. 
      “It would be undoing the value that already exists and reinventing something that is worth less, while undoing the strengths of the leagues. 
      Overall, maintaining what exists now is the best strategy football should adopt, rather than reinventing something which theoretically will do better – because it won’t.”
      Meanwhile, club chiefs agreed to continue to broadcast all Prem games live until fans can return to grounds in significant numbers, not thought likely before next season.

      Jose Mourinho backs under-fire Tottenham keeper Hugo Lloris and insists he IS still No1 after mistakes More

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      Fans could attend FA Cup and Carabao Cup finals at Wembley with FA hoping to have 27k supporters at Euro 2020 games

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      FANS could be allowed in to watch the two domestic cup finals – in a trial to help ensure supporters for Euro 2020.
      The FA is determined to open up some of the Wembley turnstiles for the seven games due to be played in the stadium during the tournament in June and July.

      Scenes of fans spaced out across Wembley Stadium may be welcomed back in the springCredit: Graham Hughes – The Times

      And that could see up to 10,000 supporters in for the April 29 Carabao Cup final between Manchester City and Spurs and the FA Cup final the following month.
      Both events would be staging posts towards the summer, with the FA hoping to be able to fill 30 per cent of Wembley’s 90,000 capacity by the Euros.
      FA chiefs are part of the Government’s Sports Technology Innovation Group, headed by Carphone Warehouse founder David Ross.
      Discussions over the past year have included concepts such as digital Covid passports for spectators, with football bosses signalling their willingness to act as “guinea pigs” for the safe re-opening of the country.

      And even getting reduced numbers in to Wembley in the spring would be a huge staging post in the right direction.
      Expectations of a lifting of Covid restrictions in the coming weeks will make the possibility of reopening turnstiles more realistic, although there is no expectation of fans being back in Prem grounds before next season.
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      The FA is understood to have told Uefa it hopes to be able to allow in around 27,000 – representing 30 per cent of capacity – for the Euros, although Wembley will still be used to hold matches if no supporters are allowed in.

      That would be part of a gradual easing of crowd restrictions at other sporting events, including Test cricket, Wimbledon and summer horse racing events like the Derby.
      Government approval would be required for all such measures but trials for the two finals would also allow sports governing bodies to judge the ease and efficiency of entry regulations which could be rolled out across other events.

      Boris Johnson reveals he WILL set out lockdown lifting target dates when he announces roadmap on February 22 More

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      Jose Mourinho defends Spurs flogging Carabao Cup final merchandise as he admits club are desperate for the money

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      JOSE MOURINHO says Tottenham selling Carabao Cup Final merchandise is not the act of a small club but of a desperate need to raise money.
      Spurs were ridiculed on social media this week when they unveiled a range of souvenirs marking their Wembley clash with Manchester City on April 25 – with rival fans claiming teams should only celebrate winning trophies.

      Jose Mourinho says Spurs need all the financial help they can help, so are just getting inventive with their merchandise sales for the Carabao Cup finalCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

      What a bunch of mugs… are on offerCredit: Tottenham Hotspur FC

      But Mourinho, who has been trying to instil a winning mentality at the London club, has no problem with keyrings, lanyards and commemorative mugs being sold after the pandemic hit finances hard.
      He said: “We have empty stadiums, an incredible stadium always empty. How many millions is Tottenham losing every match we play at home?
      “How many millions is Tottenham losing per month?
      “We have to make money so we go to a final, try to sell some pins, some shirs, key-rings, anything. So well done.

      “I think we have a marketing and merchandising department that is responsible for that and I presume that their job, maybe I am saying something silly, but I imagine that a very important thing in their job is to make money, right?
      “So if you can make money selling anything, just make money.
      “If you ask me if am I going to buy anything, I am not going to buy anything.
      “If you tell me if you lose the final, what are you going to do with your silver medal, I am going to say first of all I think I am going to win the final and secondly if you want my silver medal I give to you because I don’t want to keep it.

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      A commemorative t-shirt can be yours for £22Credit: Tottenham Hotspur FC

      How about a lanyard at £4 to remember the big dayCredit: Tottenham Hotspur FC

      “But I think marketing and merchandising is about making money. Sell anything you can sell.
      “You go to Man Utd matches and you realise well, even on TV, how many sponsors they have around the pitch. They sell everything.
      “They sell mattresses, they sell pillows, they sell shoulder supports or neck supports … they sell everything. So probably they are doing very well.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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      Man Utd vs Man City LIVE REACTION: Fernandinho and Stones set up EFL Cup final vs Tottenham – latest updates

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      JOHN STONES and Fernandinho were the unlikely goal scorers as Manchester City beat Manchester United 2-0 in their EFL Cup semi-final at Old Trafford.
      Pep Guardiola’s City now face Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham at Wembley in the final on April 25.

      Follow ALL of the latest updates below…

      THAT’S ALL FOR TONIGHT
      City triumph in the Manchester Derby to reach the League Cup final for the fourth season in a row.
      Colin Bell would have been proud of tonight’s performance, that’s for sure!
      Goodnight!

      TOTTENHAM VS MAN CITY
      The two finalists for this seasons League Cup final have been confirmed!
      Jose Mourinho’s Spurs will take on Pep Guardiola’s Man City, and he’ll be looking to guide Spurs to their first trophy since 2008 as well as stopping City from winning the competition for the fourth season in a row.
      The final will take place on Sunday, April 25.

      PEP’S THOUGHTS
      City manager Pep Guardiola spoke to Sky sports after the game, saying: “It is an incredible victory for us, to beat United away, to reach the final, and of course this is for him.
      “The team is ready. It was an outstanding performance. We were tired, they had two more days off to rest, but we achieved something incredible.
      “I know the Carabao Cup is not the Champions League, but four times in a row to reach the final is incredible.
      “I’m so impressed by the boys. The final is not next week. Tottenham is a top, top team but we will have time to think about it.”
      Pep also paid tribute to City legend Colin Bell saying: “This is for him, for his family. This person helped to build something special for this club.”

      SOLSKJAER SPEAKS
      United boss Solskjaer spoke to Sky Sports after the game.

      “When they play well, you have to play really well to beat them!”Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admits Man City were deserved winners at Old Trafford pic.twitter.com/eq6ToDmGZj
      — Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 6, 2021

      CITY ARE ON THEIR WAY TO WEMBLEY
      City fan Liam Gallagher is over the moon with tonight’s result!

      STONES SPEAKS
      Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, goalscoring hero John Stones said: “I’d like to send our condolences from everyone in the dressing room to Colin Bell and his family.
      “How we played today was a reflection of him. A great moment for us, and I’m sure he’s looking down on the game today.
      “Another final and another great occasion, and a derby won against a top team.
      “They caused us problems but we dealt with them and had so many chances. Set pieces are vital in big games and it was good to get something on it.”

      FULL-TIME STATS
      Man City continued to dominate the ball in the second half, controlling 60.2 per cent to United’s 39.8.
      Both teams had a similar amount of shots, City had 12 to United’s 11.
      City managed to register four of their shots on target, whereas United only managed to register two.

      City won the midfield battle (right).

      FT: MAN UTD 0-2 MAN CITY
      City make the League Cup final for the fourth season in a row and they’ll have to beat Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham to win the competition for the fourth consecutive season.
      John Stones was the man to break the deadlock, popping up at the back post to steer home Foden’s free-kick.
      And Fernandinho would seal the deal late on with a wonderfully executed volley.
      United defensively were solid for most of the game, but going forward they were rather toothless in the second half.

      PEEEEEEEEEEEP!
      THE FULL-TIME WHISTLE GOES!
      CITY MAKE THE LEAGUE CUP FINAL FOR THE FOURTH SEASON RUNNING!

      MAN UTD 0-2 MAN CITY
      90+2. Fernandes’ long ball is headed away by Dias but only as far as Greenwood.
      The youngster drives into the City penalty area and wins his side a late corner.
      Shaw delivers the corner towards the near post but City head the danger clear.
      Game over.

      MAN UTD 0-2 MAN CITY
      90+1. United manage to clear City’s free-kick.

      MAN UTD 0-2 MAN CITY
      90. Shaw is shown a yellow card and he’s conceded a free-kick in a dangerous position.

      MAN UTD 0-2 MAN CITY
      89. Dias is given man of the match and rightly so, he’s been absolutely sensational since arriving at City.

      MAN UTD 0-2 MAN CITY
      88. Van de Beek is on for the final few minutes replacing Fred.
      United are chucking men forward looking to find a way back into the game.

      CITY ARE WEMBLEY-BOUND
      What a strike by Fernandinho, it looks like his goal is sending City to Wembley to face Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham.

      What a strike!Fernandinho looks like he has sealed the deal for Man City📺 Watch Man Utd v Man City live on Sky Sports Football pic.twitter.com/wnUzotCEIG
      — Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 6, 2021

      MAN UTD 0-2 MAN CITY
      84. Lindelof’s heavy touch lands into the path of Foden who carries the ball down the line.
      Lindelof does well to track Foden and win possession back.

      MAN UTD 0-2 MAN CITY
      82. Wan-Bissaka clears City’s corner but only as far as Fernandinho who unleashes a venomous volley picking out the bottom-left corner!
      What a goal by the 35-year-old, is that the goal to send City to Wembley?

      GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLL!!
      FERNANDINHO SCORES A STUNNER!!
      WHAT A FINISH!!

      MAN UTD 0-1 MAN CITY
      80. Gundogan picks out De Bruyne out-wide on the left-hand side and the Belgian delivers a cross into the box trying to pick out Sterling.
      But Shaw does enough to put Sterling off making contact.

      TEN TO GO
      United have ten minutes plus additional time to find an equaliser.

      Credit: Getty Images

      MAN UTD 0-1 MAN CITY
      79. Pogba lets the body run across him for Rashford to chase after.
      Rashford tries to knock the ball past Cancelo, but the right-back times his challenge perfectly to sweep the ball out of play.

      MAN UTD 0-1 MAN CITY
      78. Pep makes a change of his own, sacrificing an attacker for a defensively minded player.
      Rodri replaces Mahrez.

      MAN UTD 0-1 MAN CITY
      77. Rashford tries to go past Cancelo and the City right-back blocks him off conceding a free-kick.
      Shaw gets involved shoulder barging the City man prompting a reaction from Cancelo.
      Cancelo is booked for reacting.

      MAN UTD 0-1 MAN CITY
      75. Solskjaer makes his first substitution of the game with Greenwood replacing McTominay.

      MAN UTD 0-1 MAN CITY
      73. Martial tries to break into the City penalty area, he knocks the ball through Stones and Dias before throwing himself to the floor.
      No penalty is given and Dias is screaming at the referee to book the United forward for diving.

      Load more entries… More

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      Manchester derby verdict: Phil Foden too good for Man Utd and should be central to England’s Euro 2020 plans

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      PHIL FODEN was the only man who seemed surprised when his classy first half finish was ruled out for offside, after he sprinted clear of the United defence to latch onto Oleksandr Zinchenko’s through ball.
      He was clearly offside, but Foden was allowed to complete his fifty yard run and fire the ball through Dean Henderson’s leg before the flag finally went up.

      Phil Foden impressed for Manchester City again as they beat rivals UnitedCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Foden was entitled to wonder how he had been denied – after all, it is not often things do not fall perfectly for the City starlet when he is in Carabao Cup action.
      His brilliant cup final display in last year’s Wembley win over Aston Villa persuaded plenty of people that there might actually be life after David Silva for Pep Guardiola’s side.
      And he set City on their way to a fourth successive final in this competition by netting the winner when his team began their cup defence with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Bournemouth back in September.
      Another goal and an assist in the 4-1 quarter-final romp at Arsenal confirmed his liking for this competition – although he proved he is anything but a ‘one trick pony’ with another dazzling performance in the 3-1 win at Chelsea on Sunday.

      Foden, 20, was a constant threat down the City left again last night, despite being up against another man in top form in United right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
      The City player’s efforts drew an admiring reaction from BBC Radio 5 Live pundit Dion Dublin, who feels he has an old head on young shoulders.
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      Dublin explained: “Phil Foden looks so comfortable on the ball and always looks like he’s got more time than he has.

      “He hasn’t tried anything on the outside of Aaron Wan-Bissaka because we know that’s his strength – and Foden knows that’s his strength.
      “So, he’s just trying to pick a pass, play one-twos around Wan-Bissaka.
      Foden also provided the cross for John Stones to open the scoring last night, and you just have to hope that Dublin’s belief in his growing maturity is justified.

      Phil Foden looks so comfortable on the ball and always looks like he’s got more time than he has
      Dion Dublin

      It did not look that way back in November, of course, when Foden and Mason Greenwood were briefly axed from the England squad for breaking rhe Covid 19 regulations by inviting a couple of girls back to their hotel room in Iceland.
      He made amends by netting twice against the same opponents when he won his third cap a couple of weeks later, and his goal at Chelsea means he has now scored eight times for club and country so far this season.
      And even though his 25th minute effort was rightly chalked off last night, you sense there are plenty more goals to come in the next few months.
      Foden seems to have finally established himself as a first team regular at the Etihad, athough Pep Guardiola’s rotation policy will keep him on his toes.

      Pep Guardiola knows he has a very special talents on his hands in Phil FodenCredit: AP:Associated Press

      But the City winger clearly has the class and the confidence to make a big impact when England take over centre stage towards the end of the season.
      A hat-trick of World Cup qualifiers in six days at the end of March will be the appetiser for the delayed Euro 20 finals.
      And Foden should be in the thick of the action, just as he has been for City lately.

      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reacts to Man Utd’s 2-0 loss at home to Man City in the Carabao Cup More

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      When is EFL Carabao Cup final 2020/21, and will VAR be used in the final?

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      THE first chance for silverware this season is next up.
      Wembley Stadium plays host for the EFL Cup final, though the date is later than usual in this campaign.

      The EFL Carabao Cup final is the first of the season
      When is the EFL Cup final?

      The EFL Cup final has been moved from February 28 to the date of Sunday April 25, 2021.
      This decision was made in a bid to have as many fans as possible attend the Wembley showdown which will kick off at 4pm.
      In a statement, the EFL said: “This season’s Carabao Cup final has been rescheduled and will now take place on Sunday 25 April 2021, with a 4pm kick-off.
      “It is the objective of the League to stage the final with as many supporters in attendance as possible.

      “And the decision has therefore been taken to move the final from its original date of Sunday February 28, 2021 to later in the year.
      “The number of fans permitted will be dependent on Government guidance in place at the time.
      “And it is hoped that moving the date to later in the year will give clubs and their fans the best opportunity to attend in person.”
      Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham are in the final after they beat Brentford 2-0 in their semi-final.

      They will face either Manchester United or Manchester City in the final.
      Will VAR be used?
      VAR WILL be used in the final.
      The EFL Cup have used the Video Assistant Referee this season, but only from the semi-final stage.
      What have they said?
      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on his Man Utd squad before their semi-final: “We have developed a lot in the last 12 months from last season’s EFL Cup semi-final.
      “It is not just a case of learning how to win them, it is earning the right to go all the way. But we are confident and we are in good form. There are no excuses.” More