Bring on the Gunners - we want our revenge warns Tottenham defender Chimbonda - Sport - Evening Standard
       

Bring on the Gunners - we want our revenge warns Tottenham defender Chimbonda

Tottenham defender Pascal Chimbonda is desperate to face Arsenal in the Carling Cup semi-finals to get revenge for last season's heartbreak.

Both sides secured their place in tonight's draw after Spurs won 2-0 at Manchester City and Arsenal defeated Blackburn 3-2.

More Spurs news

The north London rivals clashed in the last four in January, when Tottenham threw away a two-goal lead in the first leg as they were beaten 5-3 on aggregate.

But Chimbonda believes they have learned from their mistakes and is confident about their chances of lifting the trophy.

Scroll down for more

What a feeling: Steed Malbranque celebrates after clinching Tottenham's win

He said: "Everybody wants to win something and the League Cup is a great opportunity for us. We want to go one better than we did last year.

"We know what we have to do if we draw Arsenal again. It hurt us a lot to lose to them last season. We were winning 2-0 at home in the first leg and they got it back to 2-2 and we ended up losing the second leg.

"But we have learned from what happened and it will be different this time. We can win the trophy this season. We can achieve anything when we perform like we did against Manchester City."

Chimbonda played his part as Spurs became the first team to win at City this season after holding out with 10 men for 70 minutes after Didier Zokora's controversial sending-off.

Key moment: Zokora is sent off

Chimbonda believes the decision should be overturned. He said: "I don't think the referee made a good decision, Didier is not a dirty player."

Zokora's dismissal led to Jermain Defoe being substituted and the striker appeared to show dissent to the bench as he walked off. But assistant manager Gus Poyet said: "He was upset, but not with the change because one striker had to come out."

Defoe's future at the club is already in doubt as he has only 18 months left on his contract and chairman Daniel Levy is worried he has yet to sign a new deal.

Levy will also be concerned about the future of Dimitar Berbatov, who was today the subject of fresh reports linking him with Manchester United.

Sir Alex Ferguson is reportedly ready to offer a part-exchange deal involving Wes Brown, Louis Saha and £6 million.

Comments

Don't Miss
Rock star: Erin Wasson

Rock star

Erin Wasson is the ultimate anti-supermodel
Maybe it’s because she’s a Londoner … Happy anniversary, Ma’am

Happy anniversary

The monarchy has become stronger and more respected in the past 60 years
Victoria Coren: My obsession with children, five proposals a week and why David and I are no power couple

Victoria Coren

David Mitchell and I are no power couple
The Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition preview party

Summer party

Stars at the The Royal Academy of Arts
London gets ready for the Diamond Jubilee - in pictures

Diamond Jubilee

London gets ready - in pictures
The Glamour Awards - stars turn on the style

Glamour Awards

Stars turn on the style
Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink at her first Buckingham Palace garden party

Garden party

Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink
FIRST review of Ridley Scott's latest sci-fi blockbuster Prometheus

First review

Is Ridley Scott's Prometheus any good?
Fair-weather goths

Fair-weather goths

The sultry shades of summer darks are coming out of the shadows
Dog save the Queen: Corgis surge in popularity

Dog save the Queen

Corgis surge in popularity