Jose Mourinho returns to the stage where it all started for him as Chelsea take on Tottenham in the Capital One Cup final on Sunday, live on Nairaland .

The Portuguese sealed his first trophy on English soil 10 years ago when Chelsea edged an entertaining League Cup final 3-2 against Liverpool at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.

In his second spell in charge, Mourinho has transformed the fortunes of the men from down the Kings’ Road, and success in Sunday’s final could be one of several trophies this season.


Capital One Cup final: Key battles
The Premier League leaders arrive at Wembley relatively unscathed. The Blues scored the opening goal in each match on their way to the final and are yet to trail in this year’s tournament.

Mourinho’s men are still challenging on three fronts which will certainly stretch their squad, and the Blues’ resources will be tested with pivotal midfield general Nemanja Matic missing out through suspension on Sunday.

The media furore is yet to die down following Mourinho’s comments in the aftermath of last week’s feisty affair against Burnley which saw Matic dismissed, and Spurs will be hoping their London rivals will be distracted by the continued debate over refereeing decisons.



Mauricio Pochettino endured a stuttered start to life at White Hart Lane, but the Argentine supremo has certainly turned things around, having instilled his high pressing game on his new side.

Spurs have the highest tackle success rate in the Premier League, despite having made 10 more tackles than any other side. Several players have eulogised over their added fitness levels, and it is reaping rewards.

Despite competing in the Europa League and reaching Sunday’s final, Spurs are just two points off a top four spot – emphasising the strength of their squad.



Spurs battled past a determined Sheffield United side to reach Wembley having cruised through the earlier rounds, and the north Londoners will fancy their chances after coming from behind to defeat the league leaders 5-3 at White Hart Lane in the last meeting between the teams

Goals could well be on the agenda at Wembley too. Only one of the last 11 League Cup finals has seen fewer than three goals scored (Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur in 2009), and the last league meeting between these two certainly indicates excitement is on the way.

Team news


Mauricio Pochettino says Spurs' busy fixture list is testing for his players
Matic is suspended and will sit out the first of his two-match suspension after his dismissal for his reaction to a tackle by Burnley's Ashley Barnes last weekend, while John Obi Mikel (knee) remains out, so Ramires is likely to start in midfield.

Mourinho has decisions to make in goal, with Thibaut Courtois likely to be selected ahead of Petr Cech, and in central defence, with Kurt Zouma and Gary Cahill competing to start alongside John Terry.

Tottenham have no fresh injury worries.



Pochettino made seven alterations for Thursday's Europa League tie at Fiorentina, starting the likes of Harry Kane, Andros Townsend and Kyle Walker from the bench with the Wembley finale in mind.

The Spurs head coach has to choose whether to start Hugo Lloris and Michel Vorm in goal, while captain Younes Kaboul, Emmanuel Adebayor and Etienne Capoue will be sweating on their place in the squad after being left in London for the last-32 tie.

Opta facts



Both Chelsea and Tottenham are looking to secure their fifth League Cup success. Only two sides have managed to achieve this – Liverpool (eight League Cups) and Aston Villa (five).

Chelsea’s last two League Cup final victories came under Jose Mourinho in 2005 and 2007. All three of Mourinho’s domestic final appearances as Chelsea boss have ended with the Blues lifting the trophy (FA Cup in 2006/07).

Chelsea have lost two of their three previous meetings against Spurs at Wembley, both by a 2-1 scoreline (1967 FA Cup final and 2008 League Cup final). They did however beat them 5-1 there in the 2012 FA Cup semi-final.


Harry Kane has been involved in more of Spurs’ goals in this competition than any other player so far (four, scoring three and assisting another).

Spurs’ 5-3 win over Chelsea in January ended a run of 10 games against the Blues without a win (D5 L5).

Petr Cech, John Terry and Didier Drogba played in both the 2005 and 2007 finals under Mourinho, with Drogba scoring in both (once in 2005, twice in 2007). The Ivorian also scored Chelsea’s goal in defeat to Tottenham in 2008.

^^^ I see Mourinho continues his winless streak...

.

No matic in a match like this.Sorry Chelsea, you won't win.
Chelsea 1-2 Tottenham

Tval:
Match details to be submitted later.

who go mark am??

HurriKane please don't come with your kane to the stadium ooooo.....

u would like to see a cuadrado in place of oscar at Amf, we wiil surely silence hurrikane with tornado

Krasid:
No matic in a match like this.Sorry Chelsea, you won't win.
Chelsea 1-2 Tottenham

had it been there was matic u would have said wat u said, haters will keep hating while we keep doing our tin

This will be a very dicey game. Tottenham is always a dangerous team to play against. But I believe in the Blue Army...

The Special One
The Only One
The Happy One

He will do it for us!

Mourinho kicked off his cup haul in his first stint at Chelsea with a Carling Cup (now Capital One Cup) victory against a dangerous team, Liverpool. In this Part 2, he will also kick off his cup haul with another Capital One Cup victory against another dangerous team, Tottenham.

Prediction: Chelsea 3-2 Tottenham.

The king of Wembley have one goal if played.

khattab02:
HurriKane please don't come with your kane to the stadium ooooo.....

Forget HurriKane..... We have ZoumaRock to neutralise him.

Have you been to Abuja before? Do you feel that any HurriKane can move that ZoumaRock there? I think not.

Just watch and see.

abeg time?

keandre:
abeg time?

5 pm Naija time.. 4 pm Uk time

Tval:
5 pm Naija time.. 4 pm Uk time

gud tnx

am gonna be there. I got a ticket

i back my team to whip tottenham's ass. (che 2 - 1 tot). We r d pride of london. Come on chelsea
come on blus army.
Go for d trophy.

Up blues



Chelsea 1-3 Tottenham

31,000 Chelsea Fc flags in position for the final

come on Chelsea!!!

Nothing for Chelsea today.

Blue is the colour, football is the game
We're all together, and winning is our aim
So cheer us on through the sun and rain
'cause Chelsea, Chelsea is our name
Verse 1
Here at the Bridge whether rain or fine
We can shine all the time
Home or away, come and see us play
You're welcome any day
Chorus
Blue is the colour, football is the game
We're all together, and winning is our aim
So cheer us on through the sun and rain
'cause Chelsea, Chelsea is our name
Verse 2
Come to the Shed and we'll welcome you
Wear your blue and see us through
Sing loud and clear until the game is done
Sing Chelsea everyone.
Up blues we shall surely win # ktbffh

Today city will be forced to hand the first trophy over to Chelsea, at the end of the season they will hand the second one over to the same Chelseafc.

Nna eh see formation

Chelsea XI: Cech, Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry, Azpilicueta, Ramires, Cahill, Fabregas, Willian, Diego Costa, Hazard.

Is it Zouma or Cahill in DM??

Havilah93:
Is it Zouma or Cahill in DM??

which kind experiment oga ade dey do ? Mou na mad man

fredoooooo:

which kind experiment oga ade dey do ? Mou na mad man

I'm not sure yet if thats a 4-2-3-1 or a 5-3-2 with Ivanovic and Cesar as wing backs.

.#TeamCFC

Download Highlight at: http://www.forumspotz.net/video-chelsea-2-0-tottenham-capital-one-cup-highlight-download/

This will be a big win for Chelsea