MX23RW : Friday, May 24 13:37:14| >> :60:2959:2959:

Darren Bent believes Spurs are "mentally equipped" to win silverware

Darren Bent warned that a Carabao Cup trip to Stoke would not be straightforward for Jose Mourinho's side.

Former Tottenham striker Darren Bent says Jose Mourinho has installed a mentality that can deliver trophies to the north London club.

Mourinho was brought to Spurs to end a trophy drought that goes back 12 years and he has them challenging on four fronts this season.

Their most realistic chance of winning silverware this season looks like being the Carabao Cup, where they are three games from glory.

The first of those is a quarter-final at Championship Stoke on Wednesday, followed by a possible one-legged semi-final and a Wembley showpiece.

Jose Mourinho has won the League Cup three times
Jose Mourinho has won the League Cup three times (Nick Potts/PA)

And Bent believes Mourinho will be going "hell for leather" to try and win it.

"It is an opportunity, whatever competition they are in with Mourinho in charge they have got a chance of winning it," he told the PA news agency.

"They have got a chance in all of them because his mindset is win, win, win. The way Spurs are this season they seem more mentally equipped to win a trophy and he will be going hell for leather to win something.

"Look at the teams left in the competition, they have already beaten Manchester City, Arsenal, United. They have got a great opportunity.

"That is one thing I really respect about him, and Pep Guardiola, they are serial winners and have won everything there is to win.

"The League Cup is deemed the lesser trophy to win, people put out second teams and third teams, which I don't really like.

"These guys are at the top of the tree and still put out squads to win this trophy because at the end of the day it is adding another one to their cabinet and cementing their legacy. I respect that.

"Mourinho will go to Stoke with a full strength team, he doesn't want to take any chances because Stoke are no mugs. They have done very well this season."

While on paper it is a favourable draw for Spurs, it still will not be easy going to a Championship side who are enjoying some success under Michael O'Neill.

The challenge of being able to do it on a 'cold and windy night' in Stoke is engrained into English football, but Bent says it is not a fable.

Playing games at Stoke during midweek comes with a fearsome reputation
Playing games at Stoke during midweek comes with a fearsome reputation (Mike Egerton/PA)

"That is not a myth. I have been there when it is wet and windy and the crowd are on your case – it is difficult," he added. "It is freezing cold, it is miles away, the wind is flying around the stadium.

"I played there when it was most difficult, Rory Delap sending throw-ins into the box from absolutely everywhere.

"It is such a difficult place that you are going there and it is freezing, I don't know what it is but it is always such a difficult place to play and it is not a myth.

"People laugh about it, but it is definitely something that is real."

ID:427626: cacheID:427626:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7806:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Dele Alli in action for Spurs on November 26, 2020
Read Next:
Dele Alli 'left in the dark over Tottenham future'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CManchester CityMan City38287396346291
2Arsenal38285591296289
3Liverpool382410486414582
4Aston Villa382081076611568
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs382061274611366
6Chelsea381891177631463
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle381861485622360
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd38186145758-160
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham381410146074-1452
10Crystal Palace381310155758-149
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton381212145562-748
12Bournemouth38139165467-1348
13Fulham38138175561-647
14Wolverhampton WanderersWolves38137185065-1546
15Everton38139164051-1140
16Brentford38109195665-939
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3899204967-1832
RLuton TownLuton3868245285-3326
RBurnley3859244178-3724
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd38372835104-6916


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!