Vorm fearing axe after late blunder
MICHEL VORM fears his calamitous mistake that gifted Leicester a spot in the FA Cup fifth round could lead to Hugo Lloris returning for Wednesday’s crucial match at Sheffield United.
Spurs have not won any silverware for seven years and Mauricio Pochettino knows the Capital One Cup semi-final second leg at Bramall Lane is set to be tricky enough with just a one-goal lead without the potential for any self-inflicted pain.
He will have watched Vorm allow a tepid stoppage- time Jeffrey Schlupp volley bobble over him and wondered whether it is worth risking not starting Lloris.
The Frenchman is rivalled only by David de Gea as the Premier League’s best between the sticks, and with that in mind Pochettino’s decision seems clear- cut. But Vorm, who has played just nine cup games since his summer move from Swansea, wants the chance to make amends.
‘I don’t play that much so these games are very important,’ he admitted. ‘I said sorry to the boys but they were like, “Don’t be silly, you did very well”. But you feel a responsibility. They did not say to me that you will be playing in the FA Cup and Capital One Cup, I just hear it the day before a game. But I hope they still give me the chance to play on Wednesday.
‘Sheffield will play the game of their lives. If we don’t understand the importance of the game for the club and fans, we don’t deserve it. But I’m 100 per cent sure we will.’
The ramifications of the gaffe are likely to linger forr Vorm — even if he is given the nod. ‘ It will (play on my mind) but ut you have to go on,’ he added. dded. ‘I am 31 and have dealt with worse. Iker Casillas makes mistakes, so why can’t I?’
One man who didn’t fluff his lines was Leonardo Ulloa. He equalised brilliantly for the Foxes and is now gearing himself up for a first trip to Old Trafford on Saturday. Manchester United hold no fears for Nigel Pearson’s side, the striker argues.
‘We need to play with the same intensity,’ said Ulloa. ‘We must be strong because we know they take
the ballb but we must defen defend well and use the co counter- attack. They are notn as good as in past seasons but we must press more there. We believe we have a chance because we always create chances and we created many chances against Tottenham.’
Ulloa is right. Leicester saw opportunities come and go before they dumped Pochettino’s Spurs out of the Cup. For Pearson, it is that attacking ingenuity which will be key if they are to back up their shock 5-3 win in September.
‘They are the games we’ve been aspiring to play for a decade,’ he said. ‘There’s no point in being anything other than positive and look forward to them.’