League Cup history in-the-making

League Cup history in-the-making

Half-a-century has passed, since Bill Nicholson led his Tottenham Hotspur side out at a packed Wembley Stadium, for the 1971 League Cup Final.

The most revered Manager in the Clubs history; sought to complete a clean-sweep of Domestic Trophies, having secured League and FA Cup success a decade earlier.

Third-tier Aston Villa (boasting no fewer than five Scots in their twelve-man squad), provided the opposition. And the manner of their Semi-Final triumph over Manchester United, debunked any notion of a smooth coronation for the Lilywhites.

Throughout those halcyon days, the surest prediction of all, concerned the official Cup Final attendance, which consistently registered as 100,000.

Following an evenly-matched opening period, First Division Tottenham began to gain the upper hand. And as the game entered the final quarter, Full-Back Cyril Knowles helped carve out two openings for their in-form Centre-Forward Martin Chivers, who finished with aplomb.  Nice-one Cyril.

Countdown to the @CapitalOne_Cup final. MARTIN CHIVERS – LEAGUE CUP WINNER 1971, 1973 – http://t.co/rku68Cmrrv pic.twitter.com/DkVIV3WW9W

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 26, 2015

The 2021 renewal offers Tottenham, and opponents Manchester City an opportunity to further enrich the history of the much-loved Tournament.

Cup-holders City are attempting to win the League Cup for a Fourth Consecutive Year, and if successful , their Head Coach Pep Guardiola would become the first Manager to achieve quadruple victories with a single club. Victory would also ensure Manchester City equal Liverpool’s premium achievement as eight-time winners of the competition.

Alternatively; a Tottenham victory would elevate Head Coach Jose Mourinho to the position of winning-most Manager, with Five successes (Chelsea 2005,2007,2015; Man Utd, 2017).

The respective Head Coaches have enjoyed a tempestuous rivalry throughout their Managerial careers, most notably during their infamous  ‘El-Clasico duels a decade ago. Their twenty-four career encounters to date; reads as eleven wins to seven,  in Peps favour, with six games drawn.

As with Finals past; the attendance appears easier to predict than the outcome. And as-in Bill Nicholson’s day, it may come down to an in-form strikers prowess, to settle the tie. Nice-one Son?

We hope you enjoyed the article ‘League Cup history in-the-making.’ Who do you think will win this years League Cup Final? let us know!

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