Jose’s judgement day awaits as Spurs eye place in Carabao Cup final

On the week that Mauricio Pochettino was appointed Paris Saint-Germain manager, his successor Jose Mourinho faces his most important game in charge of Spurs.

The ‘Special One’ admitted that it is an important game in his pre-match press conference as Tottenham prepare to welcome Championship side Brentford on Tuesday night.

“Yes, I think so. In the perspective of the club chasing silverware for many years, I would say so,” Mourinho stated.

“Of course we always have important matches, last season we had a match at Palace that would give us participation in this season’s Europa League or not.

“The match against Leeds was very important as we went a few games without a victory in the Premier League but I would say a semi-final is always a very important match. The only one more important is a final.”

For Tottenham fans, the match should feel like a pivotal moment. After two unsuccessful finals under ‘Poch’, the semi-final presents an opportunity to reach a final under ‘a winner’.

This is not to undermine the legacy of Pochettino’s Tottenham. A joy to watch throughout his time at the club, Spurs ultimately failed to lift the silverware that the squad merited.

Despite the respect for that era, it cannot be understated the importance of silverware to Tottenham. Daniel Levy’s decision to appoint Mourinho was a clear indication of his intentions to win now. Perhaps their best chance to reach a final since drawing to then League One Sheffield United in 2015, it’s imperative that Spurs capitalise on their kind draw.

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Harry Kane pictured after Spurs progressed 3-2 on aggregate after a 2-2 at Bramall Lane in 2015.

Brentford are no pushover. Speaking to the press this week, Harry Winks was adamant on that. Having already taken out Premier League opposition in Southampton, Fulham and Newcastle to reach this stage, Thomas Frank’s men will be confident of another scalp to reach Wembley.

“It will be a tough game,” suggested Winks. “They are a good side and doing well in the Championship. We know they’re not going to be a walkover.

“It’s important we approach the game right. It’s important we play when we can play and that we take our chances.

“We cannot afford to be complacent and this team. Even though they’re in the Championship they can still hurt us. So we must approach it right and we know if we do that we will put ourselves in a good position to win.” – Winks on the Brentford clash

As contract rumours swirl around Hugo Lloris, Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane, the need for Spurs to begin lifting trophies is growing evermore.

With Mourinho’s style of play frustrating fans when results aren’t right, success will undoubtedly turn doubters into believers. Lloris lifting a trophy will soon dissipate worries over xG totals. Performances have been disappointing in recent months at Spurs, but a final to look ahead to in April would boost confidence in North London.

Whatever the result tomorrow, expect another chapter to the everlasting Jose pantomime. A touchline run to no fans in a 62,000 seater stadium is a hopeful prediction.

It was famously a League Cup that started a haul of trophies during Mourinho’s first spell at Chelsea in 2005, and Tottenham fans will hope they go one step closer to silverware with a win tomorrow.

Tom Hardy will be at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Spurs face Brentford in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.

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