Who will come out on top between Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho and Tottenham’s Mauricio Pochettino in Sunday’s Capital One Cup final?
Chelsea and Tottenham go head-to-head at Wembley on Sunday in an all-London Capital One Cup final.
The Blues will head into the game as favourites, but Spurs have already shown that they can defeat Jose Mourinho’s side with an extraordinary 5-3 win at White Hart Lane.
Mixed
That game at White Hart Lane was one of the most exciting games of the Premier League season so far.
Spurs through the likes of Harry Kane and Nacer Chadli made the Blues usually stubborn backline look very shaky.
The victory at the Lane was Spurs only win in the last six meetings between the two teams in all competitions. However, in the reverse fixture Chelsea made light work of Mauricio Pochettino’s team with a 3-0 victory, so Chelsea have the slightly better record over the two games.
Form
Neither of these teams have been in great form in recent weeks. By Chelsea’s high standards they have not been in stellar form of late, having drawn three of their last six games, including the last two against PSG and Burnley.
Jose Mourinho’s side will not worry about that dip in form by their very high standards, as the Blues are still at the top of the Premier League table and are still five points clear of second place Manchester City.
Spurs have failed to win in their last four games in all competitions and exited the Europa League on Thursday after suffering a 2-0 defeat in Florence against Fiorentina, ironically with Chelsea loanee Mohamed Salah getting on the scoresheet against Pochettino’s side.
Despite failing to win in their last two Premier League games, Spurs are still well in the battle for a place in the Premier League’s top four and a Champions League place.
Missing
Chelsea have a lot of big name players in their team, but a man who has been pinpointed as one of their key men is Serbian international midfielder Nemanja Matic.
The former-Benfica ace was rather harshly dismissed against Burnley, despite the fact that he was on the receiving end of a robust tackle from Ashley Barnes. He reacted angrily and will miss out on this clash through suspension.
Matic has won possession in the midfield area more than any other player in the Premier League this season. He has established himself as one of the top defensive midfielders in world football since his return from Benfica.
The 26-year-old will be hard to replace. Nigerian international midfielder John Obi Mikel would be looked upon as the most likely replacement for the Serb, but Mikel is also a doubt for the clash and could also miss out.
That would give Jose Mourinho a major problem, with the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Ramires looking like his only real senior defensive midfield options.
Form
Although Chelsea are the favourites to claim the victory, Spurs have one of the most in-form players in the English top-flight in England-hopeful Harry Kane. The 21-year-old has scored 22 goals in 29 appearances in all competitions this season.
The youngster caused the Blues major problems in the game at White Hart Lane earlier this season and with Matic missing he could do so again.
Dilemma’s
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has a selection dilemma in defence and in goal. John Terry will start the game, but Gary Cahill and young French centre-back Kurt Zouma are competing for a place alongside the former-England captain.
Cahill has looked shaky at times in recent games and Zouma is a player full of potential and has impressed in his appearances for the Blues.
Chelsea are spoilt for choice in-between the sticks as well with two world-class options in Petr Cech and Thibaut Courtois.
The young Belgian conceded five at White Hart Lane, but was superb in the semi-finals over two legs against Liverpool. Mourinho may choose the experience of Cech over the inexperienced of Courtois for this big clash.
Betting Odds
The Blues will be confident of picking up the trophy, but Spurs will be no pushovers and will once again be looking to shock the Mourinho’s men.
Who will come out on top in the Capital One Cup final?
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