Tottenham
legend Ledley King hopes the club’s 'youth and exuberance' can beat Chelsea
in the Capital One Cup final.
The London rivals clash at Wembley, live on
Sky Sports 1HD on
Sunday, and club ambassador King was part of the Spurs side that beat
Chelsea in the League Cup final in 2008.
King admits he has been surprised by the emergence of young striker Harry
Kane this season and believes he and fellow academy graduates Ryan Mason and
Nabil Bentaleb will play an important part in the final.
“The youth and exuberance of the team has been there to see this season,”
King told Sky Sports News HQ.
“There’s a good core of players that have come through the youth set up
together so they know what it’s like to try and win things with each other.
Chelsea are a strong, experienced side but Tottenham have young and hungry
players and, with the new experience, they’ll want to win the game.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t surprised by Harry Kane. We knew there was
a top player in there, and he’s scored goals at every level, but he’s
surprised a few people with how quickly he’s adapted.
“But Spurs will need many players to perform, not just two or three. Hugo
Lloris is a top keeper who’ll be important and Jan Vertonghen has been in
good form – he’ll have to have a big game.
“And Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb will have to try and dominate the
midfield battle, to give players like Kane and Christian Eriksen to chance
to win the game.”
Tottenham beat Chelsea emphatically in their most recent Premier League
clash, winning 5-3 at White Hart Lane on New Year's Day.
But King insists his former side must not let any previous games have a
bearing, including Thursday’s Europa League last-16 second-leg against
Fiorentina.
“The 5-3 probably won’t count for anything. I think it will be a different,
edgy type of game,” King said.
“And I don’t think Thursday’s Europa League game will have too much of an
impact either. As professionals you have to set Chelsea aside concentrate on
them after Fiorentina.
“Both Spurs and Chelsea know enough about each other already, so they’ll get
their heads around that.”
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