Spurs no long shots for glory this time round
A TRIO of long shots yesterday shortened the odds but only time will tell if Tottenham can finally be considered a good bet.
Of course, with Spurs it’s complicated. Always is. There have simply been too many near misses to take anything for granted with a club that has made huge progress in the Maurico Pochettino years but hasn’t got a pot to show for it.
For that reason, this edition of the FA Cup feels desperately important. Certainly more so than Pochettino lets on. It’s quite simply their last chance of the season to stop two pesky clocks — ten years without a trophy in the case of the club, which has ambitious players to satisfy, and nine for a manager who ranks among football’s most promising yet hasn’t made his silver breakthrough.
But maybe this is it. Certain Juventus players highlighted recently how Spurs panic in sight of finishing lines, but they are hitting the semi-final at speed after this win, which was secured with three exquisite shots from outside the box.
Christian Eriksen got the first and third and Erik Lamela nailed the second — all a delight to watch in a team performance rich in brilliance.
Swansea were desperately weak opposition. They have bigger fish to fry in the Premier League, but how disappointing to see them give in so meekly in their first FA Cup quarter-final since 1964.
It wasn’t so much a selection issue – Carlos Carvalhal made five changes to his side but beyond dropping Lukasz Fabianski and Federico Fernandez it was a strong side. It just happened to also be a disinterested one.
They managed three shots to Tottenham’s 25, and gave up 75 per cent of possession — they went down without a struggle.
Pochettino said: ‘The whole team was very good. I’m so happy and proud.
‘There is still a long way to go, but now we are into the semi-final. A trophy is an option now. At the same time, just when you feel close to winning something, then you can be far away.’
Carvalhal knew his side were well beaten. ‘I am not disappointed,’ he said.
‘After the storm comes the good weather.’