Tottenham start their pursuit of silverware this season with a trip to the Midlands to face Coventry City in the Carabao Cup, and it’s live on talkSPORT 2.
Spurs haven’t won anything since lifting the EFL trophy in 2008, but their manager Ange Postecoglou has boldly claimed he will win something this season.
It’s been a bad start to the season for TottenhamGetty
The Australian always wins silverware in his second season at a club, winning league titles with South Melbourne (1997/98) and Brisbane Roar (2010/11), the Japanese league with Yokohama F Marinos (2019), as well as his domestic dominance at Celtic.
Even as Australia’s national coach, he claimed the 2015 Asian Cup two years after he took over, with the only exceptions to his streak coming at teams he failed to see out the full two seasons in charge of.
In truth, Spurs could do with a win to boost confidence, never mind think about winning a trophy, after back-to-back league defeats ensured they’ve made their worst start to a campaign in nine years.
Meanwhile, Coventry reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup last year and were only beaten by Manchester United on penalties, so they will fancy a shock.
However, the Sky Blues haven’t started their Championship season very well, sitting in 15th with just one win.
Coventry vs Tottenham: Toothless Tottenham
Tottenham have played four Premier League games so far this year, and the statistics are pretty damning.
They have averaged 68 per cent possession and, bar battering Everton 4-0, have little else to show for it.
In games against Leicester, Newcastle and Arsenal, Postecoglou’s side fired in a combined total of 49 shots and walked away with just two goals to show for it, one of which was an own goal.
As a result of this failure to turn possession into goals and results, Tottenham’s high line and weakness from set-pieces has been exposed, leaving them with four points.
There is still a long way to go in the season for things to turn around, but Tottenham need to be more clinical.
Postecoglou is cutting a frustrated figure on the sidelinesGetty
Coventry City and Spurs have met five times previously in the League Cup, with the Londoners progressing three times to the Sky Blues’ two. Their last meeting was in 2003-04, a 3-0 Spurs win at Highfield Road in the second round.
Tottenham have won their last four games against Coventry in all competitions without conceding a goal, although this is their first clash since the third round of the FA Cup in 2012-13, a 3-0 Spurs victory.
Coventry vs Tottenham: Date and how to follow
This Carabao Cup third-round clash is set to take place on Wednesday, September 18.
Kick-off at the Ricoh Arena is scheduled for 8pm.
talkSPORT 2 will have live coverage of the match, with commentary coming from Ian Danter and former West Ham striker Dean Ashton.
talkSPORT.com will also have all the reaction.
To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
Coventry nearly pulled off one of the great FA Cup semi-final wins last yearGETTY
Coventry are looking to reach the League Cup fourth round for the first time since 2007-08, when they beat Man Utd 2-0 in the third round. Their only appearance in the third round since then was in 2012-13, losing 6-1 to Arsenal in Mark Robins’ first spell as manager.
Spurs have progressed from 16 of their last 17 League Cup ties against sides from outside the Premier League, the exception in the 2019-20 third round when they went out on penalties to Colchester after a goalless draw. The last non-Premier League team to eliminate them without penalties were Grimsby Town in September 2005, a 1-0 win.
Coventry vs Tottenham: Team news
The hosts expect to have Ben Sheaf and Tatsuhiro Sakamoto back in training this week, but they won’t make the game.
Joel Latibeaudiere came off at the weekend against Watford with cramp but is expected to be fine to take part.
But Josh Eccles is doubtful after an awkward landing potentially damaged his shoulder.
Richarlison is still absent with an unspecified injury picked up in training, and Spurs will still be without Yves Bissouma.
The Mali international missed the north London derby defeat to Arsenal after sustaining a groin problem while away with his country, but he’s expected back at the weekend.
Elsewhere, there could be rotation, with Radu Dragusin and Timo Werner among those hoping for a start.
Bissouma watched from the sidelines as Arsenal beat Spurs 1-0Getty
Coventry vs Tottenham: What has been said?
Spurs boss Postecoglou has defended his comments about winning trophies – which stretch back to pre-season when he said he said he ‘usually’ wins trophies in his second season.
Speaking to Sky Sports on Sunday, he said: “I’ll correct myself – I don’t usually win things, I always win things in my second year. Nothing’s changed.”
He was then asked about those quotes in his pre-match press conference and said: “It’s amazing, isn’t it? I just stated a fact. Am I supposed to just lie or just say it never happened?
“But do you really think it’s me sort of boasting?
“It’s just confusing to me that people are making a big deal out of something. I’m not sure how I’m supposed to answer something that is true.
“I’ve just said something that’s true, and it seems like it’s upset a lot of people for some reason.”
