Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Dire need for silverware, Spurs stars Alderweireld, Eric insist
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR are long overdue for a trophy and will win one either this season or the next, defender Toby Alderweireld said ahead of today’s FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea at Wembley.
Tottenham, seeking their first silverware since winning the 2008 League Cup, challenged for the Premier League title last season but faded during the last few weeks of the campaign and finished in third place, 11 points behind champions Leicester City.
They are four points behind league leaders Chelsea with six games left this season and Alderweireld is confident silverware is not too far away, provided that they keep improving.
“With this team, and with the people working for it, we will get a trophy – 100 percent. If it is not this season, then it will be the one after. We will do everything we can to make it happen this season,” Alderweireld told Standard Sport.
“Even with the disappointment of last season we have kept fighting, and this season we are in an even better position… we have to keep improving and get better for next season as well.
“The desire to achieve something and to get better, as a young group, is there. We want to become better. It says a lot about the mental strength of the team.”
Teammate Eric Dier said the club’s dismal record at Wembley, where they played their home European matches earlier this season, will not affect their performance.
“I don’t think that’s going to have any impact on it or make any difference to the game. I just expect a really good match and we’ve created a bit more of a rivalry with Chelsea over the years so it will be an interesting game,” the midfielder said.
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte seems to agree that Tottenham Hotspur should no longer be considered “underdogs” after sustaining a Premier League title challenge for the second consecutive season.
Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs, who lost the league title to Leicester City and finished third last campaign, trail leaders Chelsea by four points with six games to play this season.
“Tottenham are a really great power in English football, they are working for three years,” Conte told the media yesterday.
“They are a great team, they are showing for the second year they’re fighting for the title. Last year they missed out, they are doing it again and are full of great, strong players.
“They are building some- thing important. There is a moment you have to finish to be considered underdogs. This is the moment.”
Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will return for the Wembley clash after missing the 2-0 league defeat at Manchester United last weekend, but Gary Cahill could miss out after being taken to hospital earlier this week.
“When we started to have the training on Tuesday, he arrived with a bit of a fever,” Conte added. “Our doctor preferred to take him to hospital. It is not a serious problem.”
In the absence of Cahill, Conte may call on captain John Terry, who has made only 10 club appearances this season, to lead the defence. Earlier this week, Terry, 36, said he will leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the campaign.
Chelsea have won seven FA Cup titles, with the last victory coming in 2012 against Liverpool.