Carabao Cup update
“Big Four” Premier League clubs in Carabao Cup Quarter-final battle for prestigious title
After Thursday’s Carabao Cup draw for the League Cup Quarter-Final Fifth-Round, it was determined that England Premier League “Big Four” clubs Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Manchester City will each play in separate fixtures in December leading to a super exciting semi-final and final this time around. Be sure to purchase your League Cup tickets to watch these giant clubs’ battles for silverware, with popular fixtures featuring superstar footballers and celebrity managers in live action! Manchester United made it into the Carabao Cup fifth round and will battle Championship club Bristol City. But Man United manager Jose Mourinho was not happy with the way the calamitous quarter-final draw went. Mourinho joined in the football communities’ general criticism of the embarrassing Carabao Cup quarter-final draw. The match-ups for the competition's last eight were due to be live-streamed on Twitter at 4pm on Thursday but the pre-recorded draw was broadcast almost two hours later.
Carabao Cup sponsors blamed the delay on a 'minor technical glitch'. The malfunction was the latest in a series of mishaps associated with the draws for this competition in the 2017-18 campaign. Man United boss Mourinho expressed his displeasure at being denied the integrity and excitement of a live draw. “I'm not happy with the draw,” complained Mourinho. “First of all because I didn't watch the draw, and what I watched was not a live draw, it was some images of a draw. But, no, I didn't like it. I like the draw, I like to see it, I like to feel it. I didn't like it, not at all.” In draws for earlier rounds Charlton was pulled out of the hat twice; there was confusion over which teams were at home and away; and there was criticism over the decision to hold a draw in Beijing at 4.15am UK time. As a result, the EFL were forced to defend the credibility of the draw after the 'big four' avoided being drawn against each other setting up exciting matches that perhaps would be popular on TV and sell more match tickets than if minnow clubs were to play each other. A brief statement on the EFL Twitter account read: '@EFL confirms that yesterday's @Carabao_Cup Round Five Draw was in no way compromised. Draw conducted under same strict conditions.'
Arsenal will play West Ham in the League Cup quarter final series. The Gunners Eddie Nketiah may get another opportunity to show his quality and style of play on Saturday in the Premier League after scoring a brace to send Arsenal into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has hinted that the 18-year-old forward Nketiah who came off the bench against Norwich and scored twice to ensure the Gunners reached the last eight of the competition may feature against Swansea this weekend. After Nketiah's impact at the Emirates on Tuesday night, Frenchman Wenger appears to be toying with the idea of involving him against the Swans this weekend. When asked by the media whether Nketiah would be included for the upcoming Premier League clash, Wenger was positive. “He will continue to get a chance.” Said Wenger about Nketiah. “The biggest problem in the Premier League is for the first time since I'm in England we have a consistent level of results in the youth teams. That means the quality is there and the next step is to integrate them in the league.”
Wenger gave updates on Calum Chambers and David Ospina, who have been out with hip and groin injuries respectively. “Everybody who played on Tuesday night is available,” said Wenger. “Calum Chambers is back in full training on Monday and David Ospina has a chance to be fit for Red Star Belgrade.” Danny Welbeck and Santi Cazorla remain injured, however Gunners defender Shkodran Mustafi could return to the squad after being left out against Everton in Arsenal’s decisive Carabao Cup victory last weekend. “Shkodran Mustafi was available against Everton and is available,” said Wenger. “Decisions will be made on the rest.” After Saturday's EPL home game against Paul Clement's men, Arsenal host Red Star Belgrade in the Europa League on Thursday before a trip to face Premier League league leaders Manchester City on Sunday, November 5. Buy Manchester City v Arsenal tickets now online from 1st4FootballTickets.com!
Chelsea play Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup quarterfinals. Chelsea boss Antonio Conte released an angry rant at the press regarding speculation that the Italian’s job at Chelsea was under scrutiny as Chelsea prepare to travel to take on Bournemouth on Saturday evening in a Premier League match. Conte revealed that both N'Golo Kante and Victor Moses would be unavailable for the game. Conte’s furious rant on Friday amid continued gossip around his job since Conte is rumored to be under growing pressure from above with his side nine points off the Premier League top spot on the EPL Table. Conte was livid in his denial of claims in the that players have texted complaints over his methods to Steve Holland, his former No 2. Conte reacted angrily to questions from the press.
“Around us there is a lot of bull***t. I see in the past it happened the same with a lot of managers. A lot of bull***t. They try to create problems between me, the club and the players. If someone is happy to continue to write this I answer very well. I am answering very well about these different issues,” ranted Conte. “This is a lack of respect. I can accept they write the club is ready to sack me and the story with the players. I can accept this but to put another person (Holland) in this way I think this is incorrect and it is not good that this person has to send me a message to tell me, "I am sorry but this is not true". Conte said the pressure he was under as Chelsea manager was normal: 'This is work for me'. The Italian manager will not accept talk about his Chelsea assistant Steve Holland. “Why put another person in this bull***t. If you want to hit me, hit me. This is incorrect and I hate this type of situation,” added Conte. “This is work for me. From my experience, for me as a player and coach in great teams, this is work for me. You don't know the pressure you can have when you are manager of your country during the World Cup or Euros. Not one person can know this situation. This is work for me.” Conte reported that N'Golo Kante and Victor Moses will not be fit for the Bournemouth match, and Danny Drinkwater is unlikely to feature twice in a week, having made his return from a calf problem in Chelsea’s League Cup win against Everton on Wednesday.
Carabao Cup quarter-final draw tickets
Below are the four League Cup fifth-round matches. Buy top Carabao Cup tickets for all fixtures securely now online from 1st4FootballTickets.com!
Chelsea v Bournemouth
Arsenal v West Ham
Leicester City v Manchester City
Bristol City v Manchester United
