February is always an interesting time in the English football season. It comes just as the afterburn of the hectic Christmas period has worn off, and just before squeaky-bum time kicks off sometime in mid-March. The big clubs are plunged back into European competition, the teams threatened with relegation begin to draw up their final battle-plans, and players begin to feel the effects of six months’ work.
This year the month has brought us even more to feast on. To add to Arsene Wenger’s annual realisation that a successful season is beyond his grasp, we have also been dealt the sacking of 2016’s sporting hero, one of the biggest giant-killings in FA Cup history, and of course, ‘Pie-gate’.
And then there’s the League Cup – or the EFL Cup, as it’s now romantically known. The competition everyone loves to hate culminates this weekend, as Mourinho’s Manchester United take on Claude Puel’s Southampton, but does it deserve the bad reputation it gets?
It is certainly true that many of the bigger sides often don’t take it very seriously. Look at Pep Guardiola this season, for example, or Arsene Wenger nearly every season – amazingly, the Frenchman still hasn’t won it. Obviously, this leads to weaker teams being fielded by Premier League clubs, which does mean at least the youngsters get their first taste of action.
But at the same time, the cup is also dominated by the bigger clubs. Birmingham City and Swansea are the only two clubs outside the current top six to have won the trophy in the last twelve years, while Cardiff and Bradford remain the only teams outside the top flight to have made the final since 2001.
So all in all, it bares all the frustrations and none of the magic of the FA Cup, right? But let’s have a look at some finals from recent years.
José Mourinho is no stranger to this competition, and if he wins on Sunday it will be his fourth League Cup title. Not only was his victory in the 2005 final the first of his trophy haul at Chelsea, it was also an end-to-end classic, featuring a heartbreaking Gerrard own goal, three goals in extra time, and of course, Mourinho being sent off. It decisively sparked a fierce rivalry between him and Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool.
One year later Manchester United prevailed in a much more one-sided final, beating newly-promoted Wigan Athletic 4-0. But it was significant. The first ever trophy Wayne Rooney won at Old Trafford – not to mention Evra and Vidic – it was one of many masterclasses we saw from him and Ronaldo during that era. It also set Sir Alex Ferguson’s side on course for what was to come after three years of relative failure – they would go on to win six trophies in the following three.
Come 2011, and Arsenal were looking dead-on to win their first silverware since 2005. They utterly dominated a poor Birmingham City side in a tense final, but somehow came away with a 2-1 loss following one of the worst defensive errors seen in recent football history, and some marvellous poaching work from Obafemi Martins. The Gunners would have to wait three more years for a trophy, and the embarrassment of the loss has defined Arsenal’s image in recent years as perennial nearly-men.
A year later, Liverpool would get their hands on their first trophy in six years, beating Cardiff City on penalties after another tense, emotional tie. Amazingly, it was the only silverware Luis Suarez saw at Anfield, and the Merseysiders have yet to pick up anything since. But it certainly added shine to Kenny Dalglish’s up-and-down return to the club as manager, and perhaps wouldn’t have meant as much had the final been a routine 2-0 win.
Jurgen Klopp was unable to add to that after last season’s final loss to Manchester City, and although it was far from a disaster, it would have given him something to show for the progress he’s made at the club.
Mourinho and Puel are in a somewhat similar position to that of Klopp a year ago. Both managers are in their first season at their clubs, both having made significant changes to their team’s style of play and personnel, and both still with much to prove.
Puel’s Southampton have looked hapless at times, but now he seems to have got a footing. This is the Saints’ first cup final since 2003, and so a win here would grant him hall of fame status. It would also be his first trophy since winning Ligue 1 with Monaco in 2000.
Mourinho had a torrid start to life at Old Trafford, and his United team have yet to put together the kind of bulldozing performance to show they can challenge for titles in years to come. But the fans are firmly on his side for now after some classy displays. He will hope that victory can galvanise this talented squad.
Catch the EFL Cup Final on Sunday 25th February at 4.30pm (Sky Sports 1)
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