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You’d have got big odds at the start of the season on Ryan Mason being the manager to end Tottenham’s 13-year trophy drought. We’d have thought you were mad – but he could well be parading the Carabao Cup trophy in front of 8,000 people at Wembley on Sunday.
It’s been a crazy week at Spurs after somehow being invited to the European Super League (RIP) before lobbing in the grenade Jose Mourinho’s sacking just for the hell of it.
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Mourinho added even more fuel to the fire by allegedly dishing out some home truths to his former players for four hours after being handed his P45. That’s exactly what they’ll want to have heard before a major final.
Tottenham handed former midfielder Mason the job for the rest of the season and the 29-year-old will no doubt be dreaming of lifting the trophy – and getting his hands on a free case of Carabao.
Sunday 4.30pm: Manchester City vs Tottenham
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Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, will want to continue his obsessive stranglehold on the competition after winning the trophy three years in a row. Seriously Pep, give someone else a chance!
Super League co-conspirators Manchester City are cruising to the Premier League title and this has been earmarked as the first pot in their treble quest, with the Champions League also on the agenda.
Man City v Tottenham Team News
With so much going on, you’d be forgiven for forgetting Spurs had played twice in the last week. Daniel Levy booted Mourinho after the 2-2 draw at Everton before Mason kicked off his reign with a 2-1 win over Southampton.
The youngest manager in Premier League history had to do without Harry Kane, who suffered an ankle injury at Goodison Park.
Tottenham will need the England striker fit and firing against Manchester City if they’re to stop the trophy taunts continuing – and he’ll need to recover in almost the same amount of time that the Super League existed.
Mason said at his pre-match press conference: “He didn’t train with the team today but we’ll have more of an idea tomorrow to see if we can get him back on the pitch.”
He added: “It’s a case of taking it hour by hour now. So the days are obviously running out. It’s a case of seeing how he feels in the next four hours, the next six hours, and go from there. I can’t really answer than question until tomorrow. Everyone isn’t sure.”
Tottenham will be without Ben Davies due to a calf problem but Matt Doherty could be fit after returning to training earlier this week.
It’s looking better on the fitness front for Guardiola after his star man, Kevin De Bruyne, suffered an ankle injury in last weekend’s FA Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea and missed the midweek Premier League victory over Aston Villa.
City are confident he’ll be fit to face Spurs but he could be kept fresh for the Champions League semi-final first leg against PSG. We know how much the ‘Big Six’ like their European matches…
Sergio Aguero is also hoping to feature after missing a couple of weeks through injury. Speaking about the pair, Guardiola said: “Both trained today.”
Aguero is leaving at the end of the season and this would be his final appearance at Wembley if fit. Guardiola added: “Today was the first training session in the last two weeks. Tomorrow is the last training session and we are going to decide.”
John Stones is suspended after receiving a straight red for a clumsy challenge on Jacob Ramsey in the 2-1 win at Villa Park so Aymeric Laporte should partner Ruben Dias at the back.
Man City v Tottenham Stats
Manchester City and Tottenham have shared two wins apiece in the last five matches between the two clubs. Pep Guardiola’s side ran out 3-0 winners the last time the two teams faced each other. Rodri opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Ilkay Gundogan’s double secured the three points in the Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City are looking to win the EFL Cup for the fourth year in a row having beaten Arsenal (2018), Chelsea (2019) and Aston Villa (2020) in the last three finals.
Tottenham played 33 league games at Wembley in the 2017/18 campaign and most of the 2018/19 season when their home ground was being rebuilt. They secured 22 victories – an impressive 66 per cent win ratio.
Harry Kane has scored just twice against Manchester City, while Raheem Sterling enjoys matches involving Tottenham having bagged eight goals in 18 career appearances.
The two clubs have not played out a goalless draw since 2010 but both teams have scored in just four of the last 10 fixtures.
Man City v Tottenham Best Bets
Jason Murphy: “If you’re looking for a match bet Man City are, as always, probably a bit too short. If you wanted to bump it up though, with them having an eye on Paris St-Germain in the Champions League, maybe they won’t be fully gung-ho for the 90 mins, Man City and Under 3.5 Goals is around Evens. That covers you if Man City go 2-0 up and take their foot off the gas, it also covers you if you think Spurs can score a goal as well.”
Phil Thompson: “I just think Man City will have far too much and I’m going for them to win 3-1.”
“As my learned friend Jason told us about Ilkay Gundogan, I’m going for him to Score Anytime because he will take the penalties, maybe even a couple of free-kicks as well.”
Man City v Tottenham Match Odds
Man City – 4/9
Draw – 15/4
Tottenham – 5/1
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