Football fans hoping to get into the cup spirit in January will no doubt be wary of what a Carabao Cup semi-final between Manchester United and Manchester City will offer in terms of entertainment.
The start of January marks not only the third round of the FA Cup – with all the shocks, twists and unlikely turns that come with it – but also the one-legged semi-finals of a competition few managers ever care about: what we used to call the League Cup.
This season the two Manchester clubs have battled their way into the semis and will clash at Old Trafford, while London sides Tottenham and Brentford make up the final four.
The two games will be played in the first week of January – in the midweek run before the FA Cup third round – and drama may not be too forthcoming if we take into account past displays from all three Premier League sides.
Manchester United vs Manchester City
Wednesday 6 January, 7.45pm (Sky Sports)
One wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve already forgotten the last time these sides met, even though it was only on 12 December. City headed to United for what promised to be a scintillating game of football and resulted in a dour goalless draw that produced just two shots on target apiece.
It was a game locked in stalemate by two teams desperate not to lose.
And in this semi-final we could again witness a cagey affair, with neither manager willing to gamble and open up the game.
United’s Axel Tuanzebe said it best when reacting to the Carabao Cup semi-final draw, saying: “It’s the worst game to lose, probably, a semi-final.”
Indeed, neither side will want to risk losing face here and so this semi-final could well bleed a slow death in extra time, or even via penalties.
Tottenham vs Brentford
Tuesday 5 January, 7.45pm (Sky Sports)
One man who would positively thrive on plotting goalless draws in a Manchester derby would be Jose Mourinho, who has finally got Tottenham to where he wants them – that is, defending well, frustrating opponents and killing off games.
Mourinho is the master of grinding out results whatever means possible. From overseeing Porto’s dour win against Celtic in the 2003 UEFA Cup final through to his title successes at Real Madrid and Chelsea, the Portuguese boss doesn’t like not being in control.
And so when Spurs welcome Championship side Brentford to north London in January, the manager will expect a considered, methodical and crucially winning performance from his boys.
This is the stage of the competition where Mourinho zones in on the silverware. According to Opta, this is the manager’s fifth League Cup semi-final of his career. He has gone on to win the trophy in each of his previous four.
Brentford may well be flying in the Championship but boss Thomas Frank will have to come up with something special to bypass this Spurs blockade.
Indeed, there’s no guarantee this semi-final won’t be any less cagey than what is expected up in Manchester. We’re truly at the business end now.
Follow i sport on Facebook for more Man Utd news, interviews and features
More on Man Utd
- The making of Marcus Rashford: the Man Utd star who never forgot his roots
- 5 contenders to replace Solskjaer as next Man Utd manager
- Why United are prepared to play the long-game in pursuit of Sancho
- Kevin Garside: Well done to Chadwick for reminding us all to be kind
- Man Utd need Cavani to be another Cantona – but even that may not save Solskjaer
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/37ITA2l
Post a Comment