The London rivals are set to go head to head in the final of Capital One Cup at the Wembley stadium. The two teams are traditional rivals which heat up the competition.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho won the same competition in his first stint in London and is eager to start with the same once again. The Portuguese tactician finished last season without any silverware.
Tottenham have won the competition four times before and are ready to do everything to win it for the fifth time. Manager Mauricio Pochettino is confident that his team can win over their fellow Londoners and wants to add the League Cup to open his trophy case.
TEAM FOCUS
Chelsea
The Blues are the league leaders and are clear favorites to win the league and the Cup. Their dream to win a quadruple that no English teams have achieved before was thrashed by Middlesbrough who knocked Chelsea out of the FA cup. So the Blues eye the Capital One Cup as their first silverware in two years.
The squad is one of the best in Europe with a great balance and consistency. Diego Costa provides goals regularly for Jose Mourinho and the attacking trio of Eden Hazard, Cesc Fabregas, and Oscar provides creativity in the center. The loss of Nemanja Matic is the big concern who is an irreplaceable asset to the Chelsea team, but they have to manage without him in the crucial final.
Ramires is expected to replace the big Serbian who will give more pace and physicality in the center, but the Brazilian is no match to his compatriot in controlling the game. So it’s all on Jose Mourinho and his tactics.
The defense unit will be mastered by the club captain John Terry along with Kurt Zouma who was in better touch than Gary Cahill. Cesar Azpilicueta and Branislav Ivanovic will support them from the flanks.
Predicted starting XI
Thibaut Courtois - Branislav Ivanovic, Kurt Zouma, John Terry, Cesar Azpilicueta - Ramires, Cesc Fabregas - Willian, Oscar, Eden Hazard - Diego Costa.
Substitutes: Peter Cech, Gary Cahill, Filipe Luis, Juan Cuadrado, Nathen Ake, Loic Remy, Didier Drogba.
Tottenham
The team is masterly organized by the Argentine coach who successfully installed his high pressing game to the squad. The Lily whites demolished their rivals 5-3 in their last clash at the White Hart lane and are in a very good form.
Goal scorer Harry Kane is the key to success for Spurs and he will be well supported by Christian Eriksen, Eric Lamela, and Mousa Dembele. The center of the pitch is controlled by Nabil Bentaleb and Ryan Mason who might give the Matic-less Chelsea a torrid day.
The impressive Eric Dier will partner Jan Vertonghen in the heart of the defense and they will receive support from the flanks through Kyle Walker and Danny Rose.
Predicted starting XI
Hugo Lloris - Kyle Walker, Eric Dier, Jan Vertonghen, Danny Rose - Nabil Bentaleb, Ryan Mason.
Mousa Dembele, Christian Eriksen, Eric Lamela - Harry Kane.
Substitutes: M.Vorm, F.Fazio, Y.Kaboul, Paulinho, N.Chadli, A.Townsend, R.Soldado
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