Tony Cascarino has suggested that Tottenham are strong favourites for Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup clash with his former side Chelsea.
Spurs go into the match four points ahead of their rivals in the Premier League table, and hunting their piece of silverware under manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Cascarino, who made 40 appearances for the Blues, said: “Chelsea were in front of Tottenham, but the last two years Tottenham have caught up.
“Okay, they’ve not won things, but they’ve been higher in the league, more stability at the club, players wanting to stay. It’s more about stability [at Tottenham] and a team that is thriving.
“Chelsea got battered in the league game, 3-1 at Wembley. Tottenham go into this game favourites. I really hope that Chelsea can show a lot more.
“They have to put on a real performance because there is a bit of a gulf, it’s only four points in the league, but it feels like Tottenham are far more likely to get a Champions League spot.”
OPINION
Cascarino is right on this one. Chelsea might push Spurs close tonight, but Pochettino’s men will be expecting to come away with the advantage in this first leg, and it’s testament to how far they have come that it will be a disappointment if they don’t. That being said, they need to start winning trophies, and the Carabao Cup would be a good place to start. In all likelihood, to lift the crown they would have to beat Chelsea and Manchester City, who face Burton Albion in the other leg, but they’ll be confident of getting at least as far as Wembley for the final. It really does feel as if Spurs are the best of the rest now – the Blues, Arsenal, and Manchester United seem to lack the same killer instinct that Poch has instilled into his men, and that in itself is some achievement. The Argentine will not be happy with being second best forever, however, and will feel a real determination to start taking titles. Tuesday night would be a good place to start.