Tottenham have to forget about the Carabao Cup final, Mourinho says after Brentford win
Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho has told his side that they must “forget” their impending Carabao Cup final date.
Spurs reached the showpiece match thanks to a 2-0 win over Brentford that came about thanks to goals from Moussa Sissoko and Son Heung-min.
It was a workmanlike display from Mourinho’s side, and while the manager was not enthralled by what his team produced, he was satisfied with the outcome. With the final not until April 25th, however, it is not something he wants his players to linger on.
“We don’t hide that the next match is the one that we try to win,” he told Sky Sports. “We have three months waiting for the final, we have to forget it. We have to focus on what we have coming up, the league, the FA Cup and even the Europa League.
“It’s in our pocket, and when the twentysomething of April arrives, we have to be ready to fight for the trophy.”
Mourinho had claimed before this encounter that it was the most important since taking charge of Spurs little over a year ago.
“It’s a game that takes us to a final. Probably – I hope not – an empty Wembley final,” he said. “I’m very happy with that. We’ve played the biggest clubs in the country, we’ve had London derbies, but this is a game that we got to the final, so it’s a very important match for.
“We didn’t play brilliantly. We have to do better with the ball. But the game was always under control against a team that is probably coming into the Premier League next year.”
Spurs will meet either Manchester United or Manchester City in the final of the competition, with that encounter taking place on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, they lie fourth in the Premier League standings, heading a congested logjam of clubs behind the top three, just four points back of leaders Liverpool.