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José Mourinho, who is never in favor of the soft sell, enters Tuesday’s commitment to the Championship opposition with the claim that it is his most important game since he arrived at Tottenham. As great as it sounds, you’re probably right.
At this point it is not lost on anyone that the Spurs are 13 years itch when it comes to trophies and their Carabao Cup semi-final against Brentford puts Mourinho within two wins of achieving what he was hired.
That advance is close and, however, it is far from being palpable, because if we start from the obvious that everything Mourinho says in public is destined to be heard in his dressing room, then it is clear that there is nothing simple in the next challenge.
It may be a favorable draw on paper, and certainly preferable to Manchester United or Manchester City considering there are 20 ladder rungs between the sides that are fourth in their respective divisions, but the fine print is neither too small nor too friendly.
Thomas Frank can boast of leading one of the fittest teams in the country, and indeed his group travels thanks to a 16-game unbeaten streak in all competitions that is unmatched in the top four divisions.
The fact that they have beaten four Premier League teams in a row to get to this match also seems to have pricked Mourinho’s senses.
‘My most important game at the Spurs? Yes, I think so, ‘he said. ‘From the perspective of the club chasing cutlery for many years, I would say yes. Of course we always have important matches, last season we had a match at Crystal Palace that would give us participation in the Europa League this season or not.
“The game against Leeds on Saturday was also very important as we had a few games without a victory in the Premier League, but I would say that a semi-final is always a very important game. The only most important one is a final. ‘
For Mourinho, there would be a neatness to symmetry if he responded to the skepticism surrounding his appointment by handing out this particular trophy.
It was through this competition that he won his first British silver medal at Chelsea in 2005, a time when his name invoked more excitement than now, and his pondering of the importance of an occasionally maligned cup has been demonstrated in three more victories.
A fifth, with the immense importance it would have for Tottenham, could ultimately be among the most famous.
“For me, every competition is important,” he said. “That’s my way of looking at things, especially in a club without silverware for more than a decade.
“It’s not about me, it’s not about me four or five times, or about me winning three clubs, it’s not about me at all. It’s about my club, it’s about players who want trophies, it’s about fans and we only need two wins.
“We have to look at this semi-final with this ambition, respecting a very, very good team that kicked out some very good teams from the Premier League.”
For Frank, there’s comfort in beating those top-flight teams to get to this round, but there’s also realism about a team with the options of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min.
Frank said: “Of course it gives us a bit of faith, but it doesn’t disrespect Southampton, Newcastle, Fulham or West Brom, but now we’re talking about a different kind of team. We are talking about a top 10 team in the world. ‘
Tottenham also has the luxury of making up to five substitutions in the EFL-led competition tonight, which has been turned down in the Premier League this season despite being reintroduced for Football League clubs in November.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
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