DENNIS HEAD OVER HEELS FOR PEP
DENNIS TUEART believes Pep Guardiola is on the brink of starting a dynasty at Manchester City.
Guardiola travels to Wembley this weekend to face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup Final.
While the tournament may not be top of the Spaniard’s list of priorities, the City boss is still waiting to win his first piece of silverware since taking charge at the Etihad in 2016.
The League Cup was the first trophy Jose Mourinho won in English football in his first spell at Chelsea and the triumph kick-started a remarkable period of success.
Tueart believes winning it could have a similar effect on Guardiola’s side, saying: “The League Cup is a big trophy in the calendar.
“This is a chance for Pep to win his first trophy being a coach at Manchester City.
“It has an awful lot of significance. It’s the first in the list and hopefully there will be a bit more.”
Tueart knows what it takes to win at Wembley, having been part of the Sunderland side that stunned Leeds in the 1973 FA Cup Final.
He famously scored the decisive goal to help City beat Newcastle there in the 1976 League Cup Final.
His spectacular overhead kick remains one of the highlights of a career that saw him enjoy two spells with City and score 109 goals.
Flair
Tueart admits he enjoys watching the current side and the attacking flair of Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane and Sergio Aguero.
But Tueart, 68, is convinced the side’s work-rate is the real secret to their success and has backed City to beat the Gunners in Sunday’s showpiece.
He said: “What I like about the squad, is that it’s intense. It’s got pace, it’s got tempo, it’s got balance, which I always think is important.
“It’s also got desire. You’ve got the desire of Aguero to get goals, the desire of Sterling to get goals, of De Bruyne to get goals and assists.
“The things that happen in the final third are unique to this team.
“Arsenal will look to control the ball because that’s the way they play – they like to have a lot of possession.
“But I think we’ve just got too much in the last third of the field and I think we’ll win it.”
Tueart was 26 when he scored the winner to sink the Magpies, his hometown club and one that released him as a teenager.
He added: “It was a special occasion because I’d been a Newcastle supporter all my schooldays and played for them at schoolboy level.
“There were four elements. It was against my hometown team, and it’s a major trophy for your club, your supporters and team-mates.
“I managed to score the winning goal at Wembley and in spectacular fashion, so all those elements made it a special occasion.”