00:00James, it's a massive week in terms of Spurs' season, the cup competitions, they've got
00:09the Carabao Cup, a huge game there when they go away to Anfield, and of course the FA Cup
00:17weekend again kicks in. What are your thoughts ahead of this week? How could it shape Spurs'
00:23season? If they are to progress in both, it would be quite incredible if they are to progress
00:28in one, which one would you prefer? And if they are to progress in none, where does that
00:33leave Spurs and Hans? Because it's quite a tough situation if that is to be the case.
00:38Yes, it's make or break, isn't it? The Carabao Cup semi-final second leg at Anfield, it's
00:44our biggest game of the season bar none. Really, really tough going to Anfield, as we know,
00:49it's going to be a real, it's going to take a heroic Herculean effort, you might say.
00:54Probably very similar performance is going to be needed in terms of the way we set up
00:57against Brentford. Low block, but we can't sit back, Spurs just can't sit back. We're
01:03not a team that can win 1-0 very often, so we need to go there, we need to try and assert
01:08our authority on the game. I would say the first goal is going to be absolutely massive.
01:13If Spurs could get that first goal and get it from 2-0, then it's looking like a bit
01:18of a longer road back for Liverpool. But if Liverpool score first, and especially if they
01:22score early, it could be a real, real tough test for us. But we're so close, aren't we,
01:29to getting to Wembley, and what an achievement that would be. Ange has been mocked in the
01:32media and various outlets for saying that he always wins something in his second season.
01:36It would be fantastic for us to get to Wembley, and especially doing it how we've done it
01:41this season with so many injuries and so many mitigating factors, it would be a tremendous
01:45achievement. We've knocked out Manchester City, Manchester United along the way. We
01:49almost went out at Coventry City in the first round. Part of me thinks maybe we've got
01:55our hand on it this year, and it might be our year, but it's going to be a huge, huge
01:59test. As I say, every player is going to have to give a 9.5 out of 10 performance on Thursday
02:04because it's going to be very, very tough.
02:07And where would it leave Spurs fans' thoughts on Ange? If they are to get through, would
02:13they see that as a success? Obviously not going all the way just yet, but if they are
02:17to make a final under him, it's quite an impressive achievement. And then they have
02:21made a final before and sat their manager. What's the sort of situation? Where would
02:24you be? Because obviously you were fairly certain that Ange out might have been the
02:30situation just as much as a week ago.
02:33Yes, and I said that before. I have got doubts over his tactical ability. It was interesting
02:39the way we set up at Brentford. I think that shows that he's changing. We were a little
02:43bit more low-block. The full-backs weren't bombing on. We sat two defensive midfielders
02:48in front of the back four. We looked a lot more solid, so maybe that's a blueprint for
02:51going forward. But obviously, it would be huge for us to get to a final, and it could
02:57be a defining moment for Bocicoglu. We've got a very, very young side. I've said before
03:02we lack leaders, but this could really, really assist our growth. If we were to get to the
03:06final and have a brilliant day out at Wembley, it would certainly put Ange some credit in
03:11the bank if he went on and won it. You'd be giving him the keys to Tottenham, frankly.
03:16After such a long time without a trophy, it'd be a tremendous, tremendous success. We've
03:20got to use that as the springboard, really, even if we don't get there. We're still in
03:24the Europa League. We're still in the FA Cup as well. That's going to be a tough game at
03:27Aston Villa on Sunday. But there's still huge opportunities for Spurs this season. It is
03:33defining. We're very close to that final, and if we were to get there, it'd be absolutely
03:37fantastic. But we have to respect the opposition. It is going to be extremely tough. I think
03:41if we were to lose the semi-final on Thursday, I don't see that as too much of a slight on
03:46Ange, to be fair. Liverpool are the best team in the country, if not in Europe at the moment.
03:50So, it's going to be tough. It's going to take a really, really big effort. But we've
03:54shown before, arguably, our best performances have been against the big boys this season.
03:59We've actually struggled more against the, all due respect, so-called lesser teams, the
04:03likes of Leicester, Ipswich, Wolves. So, we have saved our best performances for the better
04:10We always tend to be more up for it under the lights as well when we're on the TV. I
04:13think that's something that's been levelled at Spurs before. We get up for these big games.
04:17We don't necessarily motivate ourselves for those run-of-the-mill tests, if you like.
04:21So, all eyes on it, and fingers crossed we can get over that line.
Comments