Thomas Frank may be enjoying an encouraging start at Tottenham, but he cannot afford to take the Carabao Cup lightly, as it offers both a realistic chance at silverware and a valuable opportunity to keep his squad sharp across a long season.
Tottenham Hotspur are now set to turn their attention to the Carabao Cup this midweek after featuring in both the Premier League and Champions League in the past few weeks.
Thomas Frank’s side has given a good account of themselves with their performances in the Champions League and Premier League, showing promise under the new manager in what is already shaping up to be a demanding season.
An opening day win in the Champions League was the perfect way for Tottenham to mark their return to Europe’s premier competition, while three wins, one draw and a defeat, leaving them in third place, is a solid enough start to life under Frank in the Premier League.
It is expected to be a long season for Tottenham, and in the early stages, Spurs’ focus has to be on staying in all competitions, including the Carabao Cup.
For many fans, the Carabao Cup is often looked down on and seen as a lesser trophy, and while it does not compare to the more prestigious honours on offer, Tottenham must still take the competition seriously for a number of reasons.
Why Frank cannot ignore the Carabao Cup with Tottenham
Spurs need to build on their Europa League success from last season by winning more silverware to maintain a winning mentality within the club, as no supporter would want to wait another 17 years for the next major trophy.
The Carabao Cup presents the perfect opportunity for Frank and his players to do just that, as the chances of going all the way in this competition are far greater when compared to the Champions League or a Premier League title push, with the FA Cup another demanding route that will bring its own challenges.
Last season, an injury-hit Tottenham side came close to the final in the Carabao Cup, even beating Liverpool in the first leg of the semi-final before losing on aggregate, and one would believe that if Frank’s team remain fit and prioritise the tournament, they stand a genuine chance of going further and perhaps lifting the trophy outright.
Frank’s personal motivation in the Carabao Cup
Another reason why Frank should be careful not to overlook the Carabao Cup would be for a more personal reason.
The Dane has yet to win a major trophy in his career, and while that did not prevent him from landing a top job at Tottenham, winning silverware, even if it is the Carabao Cup, would no doubt calm a few nerves and help build much-needed trust with the club’s supporters.
The final of the competition falls in the middle of the season, and regardless of Tottenham’s situation at that stage, a cup win would provide both the players and the manager with an extra lift, reinforcing belief and momentum that could prove crucial later in the campaign.
However, before Frank and his players can start to dream of silverware, Tottenham must first get past Doncaster Rovers on Wednesday night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a tie which should also allow the manager to give valuable minutes to fringe players, ensuring they remain sharp and ready to feature when needed in bigger competitions such as the Premier League and Champions League.
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