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Big trophies are hard to win. Clubs have three or four chances each season, depending on European participation, and the success rates are extremely low.
Fourteen of the 20 Premier League clubs have not lifted trophies in the past decade, including established names like Tottenham and Everton. And only five of the current 20 Premier League coaches have won a major award in this country.
When you consider respected figures like David Moyes and Sam Allardyce who are still awaiting their first great honor, it underscores how difficult it is.
The EFL Cup is less lucrative than the Premier League and the Champions League, but it is still extremely important, this year more than ever. Each of the quarter-finalists playing this week has a good reason to lift the cup at Wembley in April.
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Brentford (a) Tuesday
Many Newcastle United fans are unhappy with Steve Bruce, citing his negative playing style, frequent excuses and the fact that he is not Rafa Benitez as reasons to criticize his management.
There is probably only one way for Bruce to win the round and that is to win the EFL Cup. Given that Newcastle’s quest for a trophy is one of the greatest Odysseys in football, it would go down in club history regardless of what fans think of it at this point.
Newcastle’s last great honor was the Fairs Cup (now Europa League) in 1969 when Harold Wilson was Prime Minister and the Beatles were still recording.
Twenty-four managers have tried to emulate winning manager Colin Harvey since them, including star names like Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish and Sir Bobby Robson. How ironic it would be if Bruce could succeed where they didn’t. The party on Tyneside would last for weeks.
CITY OF MANCHESTER
Arsenal (a), Tuesday
It has been a feature of Manchester City’s spending policy that they prioritize building their team rather than splurging en masse on one or two individuals. His record signing (Ruben Dias) cost less than what Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal have paid for players.
The fruits of his policy can be seen in his EFL Cup record. They have won the last three competitions because Pep Guardiola is able to rotate his team without any loss of effectiveness. If they hit four in a row this season, they’ll match the legendary Liverpool of the early 1980s.
Such is the strength of Guardiola’s group that he did not use Phil Foden, Gabriel Jesus, Sergio Agüero, Fernandinho, Riyad Mahrez or Benjamin Mendy for the weekend’s victory in Southampton. Therefore, any weakened side of the city in the Emirates will remain tremendously strong.
ARSENAL
Manchester City (h) Tuesday
Mikel Arteta will have a slightly different perspective than those clubs chasing a long-awaited trophy. They won the FA Cup in the summer on their first attempt, but Arsenal’s current disastrous form in the Premier League means they need more cup glory to secure their spot.
The way Arteta beat Manchester City and Chelsea to win at Wembley made Arsenal fans optimistic. But they are seven games without a win in the Premier League and are just four points above the relegation zone.
To add to their woes against City, star man Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang goes missing due to a calf injury, making Arsenal less effective as a counter-attacking team.
Lifting a second trophy in back-to-back seasons will begin to give Arteta the aura of a winner and may give him more time to rebuild if the Gunners miss a European spot through the league. Beating his former mentor Pep Guardiola this week would be a good start.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Everton (a), Wednesday
Since the dark beginnings of Sir Alex Ferguson (1986-90), Manchester United had not gone so long without a trophy.
Despite the good work Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is doing, he’s still looking for that elusive first piece of silver and won’t want to end the season by being known as United’s sole manager, save for David Moyes, who was left empty-handed in the latter. 40 years.
Solskjaer has won awards in Norway with Molde, but you will be aware that this is a step forward. The club has made great strides in 2020 with the signing of Bruno Fernandes in January, showing a great catalyst.
It was important that Fernandes and Marcus Rashford were replaced at the start of the weekend’s win against Leeds United. It shows how seriously Solskjaer and United are taking their quarter-final tie at Goodison Park.
TOTTENHAM
Stoke (a), Wednesday
José Mourinho was appointed with one primary priority in mind: lifting a trophy.
Tottenham have not joined their illustrious trophy cabinet since winning this competition in 2008 and despite Mauricio Pochettino’s fantastic work at the club, they are yearning for that lap of honor with something tangible.
It is also important for Mourinho. He enjoys his worldwide reputation as a series winner and the three and a half years since he lifted the Europa League with Manchester United represents his longest and most sterile streak as a manager.
Two consecutive losses in the league have quelled any talk of a Premier League title charge, making the EFL Cup the Spurs’ best chance, particularly now that they face Championship opposition below.
Mourinho is an expert in the League Cup. He won it in his first season at Chelsea in 2005 and his first season at Manchester United (2017). This is his first full season at Spurs. Your fans will be aware of the pattern!
EVERTON
Manchester United (home), Wednesday
As a three-time Champions League winner and the only manager to lift the Double at Chelsea, Carlo Ancelotti is used to great success.
And the acclaim he received at AC Milan and Real Madrid will be matched in Merseyside if Everton captain Seamus Coleman lifts the EFL Cup at Wembley at Easter.
It has been 25 years since Everton won a trophy, the FA Cup with Joe Royle, which is amazing for a club that helped establish the Premier League as one of the five powerful clubs in English football.
These days, the Evertonians resent that the Spurs are being regarded as one of the Big Six at their expense. The first step to change that is to win things and this is the first and best opportunity for Ancelotti.
They recently lost 3-1 at home to United in the league, so hope the Italian has a cunning plan up his sleeve. His team is in good shape having won their last three games.
DON’T FORGET THE OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP!
This week there will be no lack of motivation for Stoke City or Brentford, as they are very close to Wembley.
Stoke, who beat the Wolves and Aston Villa en route to Wednesday’s quarterfinals at home to the Spurs, has only won one major trophy in their history; the 1972 League Cup when World Cup winner Gordon Banks was their goalkeeper in the final against Chelsea.
Brentford, who will face Newcastle on Tuesday, has never won a major trophy. His greatest successes have been division titles in the third and fourth divisions.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
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