Jose sacking won’t stop a win for City
The timing of Jose Mourinho’s sacking at Tottenham Hotspur certainly took most people by surprise, myself included.
To part company with your manager in the build-up to today’s Carabao Cup Final doesn’t sound ideal, and many theories have been doing the rounds.
Jose has won a major trophy at every club he has been at, but now that excellent run won’t continue.
He’d have loved to have been leading the team out at Wembley today.
Spurs were also pushing to get into the top four in the Premier League, but they face an almighty challenge trying to do that.
A Europa League place looks more realistic.
But their focus will be on this game, and they will have to be at their absolute best to defeat Manchester City.
Ryan Mason has been put in interim charge and what an opportunity he has been given.
Harry Kane is fighting to be fit, and they will be keen for him to be available. He is a quality striker, and a potential matchwinner.
Gareth Bale will also be on a high after his goal in midweek against Southampton. He is also of the highest calibre.
But City have quality in every area of their team.
Pep Guardiola has first-class options to choose from, and it will be interesting to see what his line-up is.
He made several changes last weekend against Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final – and they lost.
Today is their chance to get their first piece of silverware of the season in the trophy cabinet, and that’s always significant.
Having been looking at a possible quadruple until last weekend, Guardiola will now want to get the first piece of a potential Treble.
I think Manchester City will win, but I do expect it to be quite a close game.