Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho said he senses the desire of his players to end the club's 13-year trophy drought after they reached the League Cup final beating Championship side Brentford 2-0 on Tuesday.
Spurs have not lifted a major trophy since their League Cup triumph over Chelsea in 2008 and goals from Moussa Sissoko and Son Heung-min secured their ninth final appearance in the competition, which they have won four times.
Mourinho, who is seeking his fifth League Cup crown as a manager after previous triumphs with Chelsea (2005, 2007, 2015) and Manchester United (2017), said there was a simple secret to success in the competition.
"I came to England in 2004 and I remember ... I had to learn the meaning of the cups here and I always took it seriously. If there's any secret it's to take it seriously. To respect what English football is," Mourinho told reporters.
"What I sense in the team is exactly that desire. I'm not saying winning mentality, I'm not saying we are this or that. I just say we're honest people.
"The guys since the first game against Chelsea, then Stoke City, and now ... took it seriously. That's what I hope to do on Sunday in Crosby against Marine (in the FA Cup third round). Try to be serious, respect the opponents and try to progress."
Tottenham defender Eric Dier said his team mates were desperate for silverware.
"Since I've been here we've been wanting to, that motivation hasn't changed," Dier told Sky Sports.
"There's a lot of football to be played before it but it's fantastic to be in the first final possible."
Brentford boss Thomas Frank added: "It was an open game, we had a top attitude, we were brave and an equaliser wouldn't have been a totally unfair result against a world-class team.
"If you want to go to a final against a top team, you need the margins with you but then they show class to get a second and after that it was game over."
- Reuters
Mourinho says he senses Spurs desire to end trophy drought
Image: Clive Rose / Getty Images
Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho said he senses the desire of his players to end the club's 13-year trophy drought after they reached the League Cup final beating Championship side Brentford 2-0 on Tuesday.
Spurs have not lifted a major trophy since their League Cup triumph over Chelsea in 2008 and goals from Moussa Sissoko and Son Heung-min secured their ninth final appearance in the competition, which they have won four times.
Mourinho, who is seeking his fifth League Cup crown as a manager after previous triumphs with Chelsea (2005, 2007, 2015) and Manchester United (2017), said there was a simple secret to success in the competition.
"I came to England in 2004 and I remember ... I had to learn the meaning of the cups here and I always took it seriously. If there's any secret it's to take it seriously. To respect what English football is," Mourinho told reporters.
"What I sense in the team is exactly that desire. I'm not saying winning mentality, I'm not saying we are this or that. I just say we're honest people.
"The guys since the first game against Chelsea, then Stoke City, and now ... took it seriously. That's what I hope to do on Sunday in Crosby against Marine (in the FA Cup third round). Try to be serious, respect the opponents and try to progress."
Tottenham defender Eric Dier said his team mates were desperate for silverware.
"Since I've been here we've been wanting to, that motivation hasn't changed," Dier told Sky Sports.
"There's a lot of football to be played before it but it's fantastic to be in the first final possible."
Brentford boss Thomas Frank added: "It was an open game, we had a top attitude, we were brave and an equaliser wouldn't have been a totally unfair result against a world-class team.
"If you want to go to a final against a top team, you need the margins with you but then they show class to get a second and after that it was game over."
- Reuters
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