THE OPPOSITION
Four weeks ago Tottenham appeared to be flying, making progress on three fronts under José Mourinho.
Top spot in their Europa League group had been confirmed, they led the Premier League following a 2-0 win over North London rivals Arsenal, and were into the Last Eight of the Carabao Cup.
However, since that win over The Gunners, things have cooled off for Spurs in the league. They have won just one of their last five, dropping to fourth, four points off top spot. A draw against Crystal Palace preceded defeats to Liverpool and Leicester City and late dropped points against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Last time out they beat Leeds 3-0 to move back into the top four.
This is only Spurs' third game in the Carabao Cup. They were given a bye past Leyton Orient in Round Three due to a Covid outbreak within the Os squad before a penalty shootout victory over Chelsea the following week. Their Semi Final spot was secured before Christmas with a 3-1 win over Stoke City.
In Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, Spurs have the most feared attacking duo in world football right now. The pair have 32 goals in 39 combined starts this season, including one each in the 3-0 win over Leeds on Saturday.
TEAM NEWS
Thomas Frank confirmed at Monday's press conference that Christian Norgaard would miss out tonight. Mads Roerslev made his return from injury for Brentford B yesterday but Shandon Baptiste remains on the long-term injury list.
Tottenham Hotspur have no Gareth Bale (calf), Eric Lamela (unknown), Giovani Lo Celso (hamstring), and Matt Doherty (suspended). Steven Bergwijn may be rested following a hectic festive period with Serge Aurier and Moussa Sissoko among those likely to start tonight.
THE MANAGER
A man who has quite literally won it all at club level, José Mourinho will line up in the opposite dugout to Thomas Frank tonight. From humble beginnings as a translator to Bobby Robson at Sporting Lisbon, Mourinho worked his way up to be Robson's assistant during his spells with Porto and Barcelona.
Branching out on his own in the early 2000s, Mourinho made his name by winning the Champions League with Porto in 2003/04, a year after lifting the UEFA Cup. Eight trophies in three seasons, including back-to-back Premier League titles, followed with Chelsea before another Champions League and two Serie A crowns came during his time with Inter Milan. He won a La Liga title with Real Madrid ahead of a return to Chelsea for a third Premier League win in 2014/15. Mourinho then won the Europa League with Manchester United in 2017, his fourth continental honour.
He was announced Tottenham manager in November 2019, bringing 23 domestic and four European honours with him to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and a win percentage of 64 per cent from 971 games managed.
THOMAS' THOUGHTS
PRE-MATCH VIEWS
⚖ Mike Dean will be the man in charge tonight
🆚 The inside track on Spurs
HOW TO FOLLOW
Tonight's game is exclusively live on Sky Sports.
Audio Match Passes to listen live on iFollow Brentford are available to buy for £2.50
Click here to buy
We are celebrating our fantastic cup run with a limited edition away shirt which is embroidered with the Semi Final fixture detail and has the Carabao Cup Sleeve badge on the left arm. Pick between one of the cup goal scorers to complete your limited-edition shirts. Adult sizes (including women’s) are available for £70 and Juniors are £60.
With limited availability, don’t delay, buy your shirt online now.
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