Toby and pals can earn their Spurs with win
Toby Alderweireld wants to shut up the critics by claiming his first piece of silverware with Spurs at Wembley today and prove that they are on the up.
The Belgium defender insists that Spurs have made huge strides in his five-and-a-half years at the club and lifting the Carabao Cup against Manchester City will be the icing on the cake.
That would also see Alderweireld and Co ditch their ‘nearly-men’ tag just days after Jose Mourinho was axed as manager.
The former Ajax stopper said: “From the moment I came here, we are growing. We didn’t get silverware but the steps this club have taken in the last five, six, seven years are big.
“Don’t underestimate it. We played in the Champions League four times in a row and, as a club, we’re growing unbelievably.
“So of course we are not happy without silverware but you can’t say we weren’t good or say Spurs don’t have winners.
“You have to win to get to finals. You have to win to get into the top four. That is not silverware but maybe now we are in a moment to get everyone to just shut up and get it.
“We’re going to do everything we can to achieve that.”
Alderweireld won three Eredivisie titles and the KNVB Cup with Ajax plus La Liga with Atletico Madrid.
But he also knows the heartache of losing big finals and semi-finals.
He f inished a runner-up twice in t he Champions League – with Atletico in 2014 and Spurs five years later – and is determined not to let it happen again today. He added: “We are going to do everything in our power to win this game. “We are going to prepare ourselves the best way possible and we have to be confident and try to play, to go there to win.
“That’s our mindset and it will be unbelievable if we can finally get a trophy for this club.”
While Spurs are sweating on the fitness of Harry Kane, City are facing the prospect of being without Alderweireld’s Belgium team-mate Kevin De Bruyne.
Asked if he wanted De Bruyne to be fit, Alderweireld laughed and said: “That is not a very fair question. They have a lot of quality to replace him but Kevin is Kevin – he really is something special.
“You want to play against the best teams and the best players to prove you are the best yourself.” Meanwhi le, Cit y skipper Fernandinho is aiming for a place in history by picking up his SIXTH Carabao Cup winner’s medal.
The Brazilian midfielder said: “I think this would be one of the proudest moments since I signed for City.
“The chance to win a sixth title in this competition is really something special.
“Personal achievements are always good, of course, but they have never been my main targets. For me, the collective effort is always what’s important. “Whether or not I play in this final, I will prepare myself to be ready to help the team win in any way that I am needed.”