Tottenham - EFL Cup Final | Pre-Match Thread

[DMA's]

The only thing that makes me think he might go reasonably strong is that he said KDB is available

Wouldn't he have just said he is getting better but won't be ready for sunday if he had no intention of playing him?

great news if Kane isn't fit. They're twice the team with him in there

I think this quote pretty much confirms most key players will not be risked from the start at least. I’d expect kdb to maybe come off the bench against spurs otherwise I think we can expect a similar side to the Chelsea game.

 

[kaz7]

Fans are jumping through hoops to get there , if he plays last weeks team then forget it

 

[DMA's]

I honestly think next season we should just play the likes of doyle, delap, Palmer etc in the league cup. To get to a final but not take it seriously seems a bit pointless

 

[blue61]

Judging by Guardiola's comments just now, the team on Sunday is going to be heavily heavily rotated. He laboured the point that normally this final takes place in Feb but this year it's in the busiest part of the season. He also laboured the point that his priorities are the PL and the CL. I now expect:

Steffen, Cancelo, Dias, Laporte, Mendy, Fernandinho, Rodri, Gundo, Torres, Sterling, Jesus.

I think that will be very close, toss up between Gundo or Foden to start. If Kane is unfit to start, I wouldn't be surprised if they go with wingbacks like Chelsea did with Son looking to get in behind.

On paper that team is not bad, especially if they were in form

 

[blue61]

I honestly think next season we should just play the likes of doyle, delap, Palmer etc in the league cup. To get to a final but not take it seriously seems a bit pointless

There will be lots of rotation like this season for sure following the Euros. The ones you name will either be rotated or sent on loan. Another year of youth football is not beneficial to anyone

 

[SWPISHOME]

By the sounds of Pep there will be plenty of changes on Sunday.
Going by that, Steffan, Cancelo, Ake, Ferran, Sterling may all come into the side. Not what I wanted to hear would of l liked a full strenght team going into a final.

 

[MAG]

 

[phargrave]

Prepare to be disappointed then, not sure Pep could have been more clear where his priorities lie for the rest of the season.

Then why even get as far as the final, play more games and risk injuries.......unbelievable

 

[MAG]

 

[MAG]

 

[MAG]

 

[blueparrot]

Then why even get as far as the final, play more games and risk injuries.......unbelievable

Not unbelievable at all why we got to the final and now need to juggle the squad if you read why and listen, the final should have been February, not 3 days before a c/l semi final. FFS, you might not like it or agree but lets not pretend it’s either a surprise, or not understandable.

 

[MAG]

 

[r.soleofsalford]

To get to a semi and toss it off was bad enough.

 

[alexmcity]

Obviously, Rodri won't start on Sunday after having played full games vs Dortmund, Chelsea and Villa.

If Kevin is fully fit, he will probably start in order to get 60 minutes under his belt before PSG.

None of the midfielders and attackers who are going to start vs PSG won't play more than 60-70 minutes. Same with Dias.

Pep can make 5 changes, and he will use them to make sure that virtually any of the starters in Paris will play no more than 60-70 minutes vs Spurs (including extra time).

That is, Pep is likely to make at least 5-6 changes, but 7-8 are more likely. The biggest conundrum is to find partners for Dinho in midfield. Can be solved in two ways: either start KDB and Bernardo and then sub them off for Gundy and Foden, so that none of them plays more than 60-70 minutes (with extra time), or use 3 in defence and put Cancelo and Mendy next to Dinho plus one out of KDB/Bernardo/Gundy/Foden.

Most probable line-up:

SteffEn

Cancelo
Ake/Dias
Laporte
Mendy

Dinho
KDB/Gundy
Bernardo/Foden

Torres
Jesus
Sterling

Or:

SteffEn

Dias/Garcia
Laporte
Ake

Cancelo
Mendy
Dinho
KDB/Bernardo/Gundy/Foden

Torres
Jesus
Sterling

 

[Blu3m00n91]

Sounds like we’re gonna see a similar line up to Chelsea game sadly

 

[Len Rum]

To get to a semi and toss it off was bad enough.

I beg your pardon!

 

[Len Rum]

SteffEn
Dias/Garcia
Laporte
Ake
Cancelo
Mendy
Dinho
KDB/Bernardo/Gundy/Foden
Torres
Jesus
Sterling

I think it will be your second option mate as above ^

 

[Superace]

I agree. But it felt like he was going out of his way to make the points. He described next Wednesday as "a dream come true to play in the semi final" when answering a question about City's record in the Carabao. Be interested to know what anyone else who watched the presser thinks.

Thats definitely how I read it, but then I've learnt never to second guess Pep as he tends to do the opposite of what he says.

 

[phargrave]

Not unbelievable at all why we got to the final and now need to juggle the squad if you read why and listen, the final should have been February, not 3 days before a c/l semi final. FFS, you might not like it or agree but lets not pretend it’s either a surprise, or not understandable.

Sorry, but a finals a final. Last Saturdays semi was bad enough. Tbh I can’t see City beating PSG in the chumps league so loose Sunday and that means just the Premier league - hopefully! So going from potentially the quadruple to winning just one trophy, would seem an anti climax to say the least!