Carling Cup Final

Manchester United vs Tottenham
Location : Wembley Stadium

Did you know Manchester United and Tottenham have met 6 times in the League Cup? Did you know Tottenham, the holders, won 5 of those 6 games? Now who are the favourites?
Sir Alex Ferguson has promised starts to Wellbeck and Gibson - with Ronaldo, Rooney and Giggs likely to be in the starting 11. Ferguson has confessed that the upcoming League game with Newcastle is more important to his side than this game - although it is important to win to "keep the winning mentality". For Harry Redknapp's Tottenham, the strongest possible lineup will be fielded - though it will be without injured King, cup-tied Palacios, Keane, Cudicini and Chimnonda and on-loan Manchester United player Frazier Campbell - basically leaving you with the underachieving squad who subjected Spurs to a relegation battle.
Although Tottenham may want this Cup more than United, the immortality that comes win winning an unprecedented 5 trophies (World Club Cup won, League all but won, FA Cup and Champions League still availinle) may drive characters like Wayne Rooney to produce that one spark, one bit of magic at any time. Ryan Giggs will become only the seventh player to feature in 5 League Cup finals. Ferguson will want to become only the fourth manager to win 3 League Cup trophies. Clearly, personal incentives could be the ultimate motivation for a United triumph.
Tottenham are also not without drive. They will be unwilling to terminate their fairytale reign as League Cup champions - especially against the World Champions. Roman Pavlyuvhenko will be playing for his whole country when he becomes the first ever Russian to partake in a League Cup Final.

I can see Manchester United being way to strong for Tottenham in this one. Too many magicians all over the pitch with too many reasons not to play well should see the Red Devils over the line. Even the United youngsters will have a point to prove in the other Theatre of Dreams - Wembley Stadium.

Prediction

Manchester United 1 : 0 Tottenham