Chelsea assistant coach Carlo Cudicini has said the Blues are eager to beat Tottenham and go on to win the EFL Cup this season.
Cudicini played for Spurs between 2009-2012, mainly acting as back-up to Heurelho Gomes and Brad Friedel during his time at White Hart Lane.
The Italian is now assistant coach to Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri, whose side come up against Tottenham in the EFL Cup semi-finals this month.
The first leg takes place at Wembley tomorrow night, and Cudicini insists Chelsea will go all out to win the competition.
“In a few days we have a very important game, we need a bit of rest to get the energy back and then go again because obviously it is a competition that when you reach the semi-finals you want to go all the way. Obviously we know the level of the opponent,” Cudicini told Chelsea’s official website.
“It’s always important to win the first trophy of the season. You have the chance to win it in February and it can help to then have an even better end of the season. As a club, we consider all the trophies to be important and we have the chance to reach the final and we obviously want to do well.”
Spurs have won their last two meetings with Chelsea, beating them 3-1 at Stamford Bridge last season and again at Wembley this term.
It will be interesting to see the strength of the teams Sarri and Mauricio Pochettino put out.
Paulo Gazzaniga is expected to start ahead of Hugo Lloris again, but other than that Pochettino would be well advised to put out his strongest possible team.
A convincing first leg advantage could make it possible to rest the likes of Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen for the reverse fixture.
Well, Carlo would tip Chelski, wouldn’t he? He does work for them after all.
I’m not sure he ever got over the bollocking he got from Spurs after he had that motor cycle accident.