Spurs, meanwhile, have also won the competition four times, with their most recent triumph coming in 2008 when Juande Ramos’s side beat Avram Grant’s Blues to win their first major honour in almost a decade.
Only one of the Tottenham team that competed on that day, Younes Kaboul, stands a chance of featuring for the Lilywhites on Sunday afternoon, while four of the Chelsea squad remain at the club.
John Obi Mikel, who started back in 2008, is out of action, a knee injury robbing him of the opportunity to replace the suspended Nemanja Matic in the heart of the midfield.
However, despite the absence of the Nigeria international, a number of African players will likely be on show.
Bentaleb | A First Major Final
For young midfielder Nabil Bentaleb, Sunday’s clash represents a first senior final.
The Algeria international is no stranger to high-profile battles, he has featured at the World Cup, starred in the recent Africa Cup of Nations—scoring in the tense group-stage battle with Senegal—and has proven himself to be an able and mature competitor in the heavyweight match-ups of the Premier League.
The midfield dynamism of Bentaleb and Ryan Mason ought to be critical against Chelsea. The duo—the embodiment of Mauricio Pochettino’s high-intensity, technically-proficient style—are central to the ‘New Spurs’ and will be charged with squeezing the life out of the Chelsea midfield, particularly seeking to stifle the influential Cesc Fabregas.
However, there will surely be some concern about Bentaleb’s ability to go the full 90 minutes, especially in the context of Wembley stadium. Both he and Mason started in the ill-fated Europa League knockout match against Fiorentina on Thursday evening, and their recent exertions come in stark contrast to Chelsea’s week of rest ahead of the final.
In the blue corner, one player who will feel particularly well-rested is Didier Drogba, who played only four minutes against Burnley in the Premier League last weekend.
Despite being reduced almost exclusively to the role of substitute in this, his second stint at Stamford Bridge, few players relish a trip to Wembley as much as Drogba.
Drogba | A firm friendship with Wembley Stadium
He scored in the 2008 League Cup final defeat to Spurs and a year beforehand was the match-winner against Manchester United in another final, his extra-time goal breaking the deadlock and giving Chelsea the first FA Cup to be won at the new Wembley.
Drogba has scored nine goals for Chelsea in cup finals and while he is unlikely to start against Spurs, the north Londoners will be particularly wary if they see the former Elephants striker warming up on the touchline.
What would Emmanuel Adebayor give to enjoy the reputation and honours tally of Drogba?
There is a lingering sense that the Togo frontman hasn’t made the most of his talents throughout a controversial career, and has been reduced, like Drogba, to a big-part player this season.
Adebayor | Time to leave a legacy?
Adebayor, unlike the Ivorian, cannot bask in the Wembley atmosphere and look back on a career’s worth of successful final appearances. He still has a legacy to build and will be acutely aware that one Copa del Rey title (won with Real Madrid in 2011) is scant reward for his multitudinous talents.
Adebayor will likely be warming up on the touchline alongside Drogba during the match, with Harry Kane likely to be given the starting berth—will either of these two prove to be decisive on the day?
Michael Essien, Mikel, the aforementioned Drogba, Yaya Toure, Salomon Kalou, El Hadji Diouf, Didier Zokora and Obafemi Martins are just some of the grand names of African football to have lifted the League Cup.
Will Bentaleb or Adebayor add their names to this illustrious list on Sunday, or will Drogba win his third League Cup crown and his 13th honour with Chelsea?
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