Chelsea’s Ivorian striker Didier Drogba (third left) and captain John
Terry lift the trophy following their 2-0 victory over Tottenham
Hotspur in the Carling Cup final at Wembley on March 01, 2015. AFP
PHOTO
John Terry hailed Chelsea’s League Cup final triumph against
Tottenham on Sunday as a massive moment in Jose Mourinho’s second spell
in charge.
Terry put Chelsea on course for a 2-0
victory when the Blues captain fired home on the stroke of half-time and
Kyle Walker’s second-half own goal ensured Mourinho would claim his
first silverware since his return to Stamford Bridge in 2013.
Mourinho’s
maiden trophy of his original stint as Chelsea manager was also the
League Cup in 2005 and that was followed by the Premier League title
just months later. And, with Chelsea on top of the league once again,
Terry hopes the win at rain-soaked Wembley will prove a springboard to
more glory.
“It’s the first trophy this season and
it’s massive. It meant an awful lot to us when we won it in Jose’s first
year in 2005 as well,” he said. “That could be the start of something
very good. We have to kick on and we have got the league to focus on,
but it’s a great day and a great win.
INSPIRED SWITCH
“The pressure was there before the game, obviously, but that’s what cup finals do to you.
“In
the first half it was even, but we controlled it a little bit better in
the second half. We were deserved winners. “The manager made it clear
from the outset we were out to win this competition. It’s credit to the
manager and the squad.”
Mourinho’s pre-match selection
gamble proved the key to Chelsea’s victory as he surprisingly selected
French defender Kurt Zouma to fill in for the suspended Nemanja Matic in
central midfield.
Zouma, 20, adapted superbly to his
unfamiliar role and harried Tottenham’s playmakers into submission,
cutting off the supply lines to in-form striker Harry Kane and making
Mourinho’s move look a masterstroke. Chelsea defender Gary Cahill agreed
it was an inspired switch by the Portuguese coach.
“Kurt
Zouma for such a young lad to come in to the team, he’s been fantastic,
and he played an unfamiliar position today. He’s a great boy, a
fantastic talent,” Cahill said. “They made it tough, they had a couple
of chances in the first half but the skipper (Terry) stood up for us
with the goal.
“Diego (Costa) was superb, and every single player on the pitch gave 100 percent.”
“Diego (Costa) was superb, and every single player on the pitch gave 100 percent.”
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