Carabao Cup
Chelsea vs Tottenham Preview
- Date: Jan. 24, 2019
- Time: 2:45 p.m. (est)
- Network: ESPN+
- Location: London, England
- Venue: Stamford Bridge
- Seating Capacity: 41,631
Tottenham take their 1-0 lead to Stamford Bridge when they face Chelsea for the Carabao Cup second leg semifinal.
The Blues have been struggling as of late and will aim to overturn the 1-0 aggregate deficit.
Meanwhile, the Spurs will look to add to their aggregate without Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Son Heung-Min.
Views From Both Camps
“I am so optimistic.”
“We are going to prepare for Chelsea, try to find solutions. Try to be solid, aggressive, offensive and keep our identity.”
“Of course it’s going to be tough. I don’t say we’re going to win easily on Thursday. But we are going to try. That is the most important thing and I know that afterwards I will be happy because the squad we have is going to give their best to be in the final.”
Additionally, Pochettino has concerns with Lucas Moura.
“I hope that Lucas Moura is going to be good.”
“He was training today at the training ground but today we didn’t want to take a risk with him so we will wait until he is 100 per cent. Maybe for the bench, maybe he will start the game.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri was very critical of his players after losing two straight games to London-based teams.
“This group of players are extremely difficult to motivate.” “I think we need to react on the pitch. The rest is nothing.”
“We discussed with the players how to try to improve the approach, the motivation, the determination, so we are trying to change something in training, in pre-match, in everything. I think we all have to react on the pitch, of course.”
Possible Lineup
Chelsea XI: Arrizabalaga; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso; Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic; Willian, Hazard, Pedro.
Tottenham XI: Gazzaniga; Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen; Trippier, Eriksen, Winks, Rose; Lamela, Lucas; Llorente.
Prediction
The Blues have not looked good of late but Tottenham are without three key players. The Spurs also struggled against Fullham this past weekend. I see Tottenham winning on penalties.
Tottenham 1 – 1 Chelsea
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Photo credit to Dickson Dagogo via Flickr
