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United step up trophy quest

Author: Rose Young
Date: 27/02/2009

Manchester United's quest for an amazing five trophies this season continues on Sunday at Wembley when they take on Tottenham Hotspur in the Carling Cup Final.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side may have lost the Super Cup to Zenit St Petersburg in August but they claimed the title of World Club champions just before Christmas and are betting favourites to clinch silverware in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.

United, seven points clear of second-placed Liverpool, already seem certain to secure a third successive league title in less than three months' time and travel to London next weekend to take on Fulham in an FA Cup sixth round tie.

Having drawn 0-0 with Internazionale in the first leg of their last 16 Champions League encounter with Jose Mourinho's side earlier this week, they are also favourites to move into the quarter-finals of Europe's premier competition.

In contrast, Tottenham were beaten by United in the fourth round of the FA Cup last month and, after Sunday's game, have 12 matches left to preserve their Premier League status.

However, Tottenham are the Carling Cup holders, having shocked Chelsea under Juande Ramos' guidance in last year's Final, while current boss Harry Redknapp secured the FA Cup with Portsmouth last term.

During Pompey's run, Redknapp's side knocked out United in the quarter-finals at Old Trafford, so it may not necessarily be plain sailing for Ferguson's all-conquering side.

Tottenham also have a better pedigree in this competition, having won the League Cup in all its guises on four occasions while United have tasted glory just twice - in 1992 and 2006.

Tottenham have failed to beat United in their last 17 encounters in all competitions but, if they do prevail on Sunday, they will become only the third team to successfully defend the trophy.

Nottingham Forest and Liverpool, who won the competition four times in a row in the early 1980s, are the only other clubs to have done so.

Redknapp has promised to name a strong side for the game having rested most of his stars for Thursday's UEFA Cup match. He has been unimpressed by the busy schedule his side have had to face in the build-up to Sunday's Final though, which will be their fourth game in ten days.

Ferguson has revealed that he will make seven changes to the team that drew 0-0 with Inter on Wednesday but Wayne Rooney, who came on as a late substitute at the San Siro, looks certain to start at Wembley.

Owen Hargreaves is the only definite absentee while Jonny Evans, Gary Neville, Anderson and John O'Shea face races against time to be fit enough to feature.

For Redknapp's side, Ledley King and Jamie O'Hara are battling to overcome injuries so that they can play at Wembley but Alan Hutton definitely misses out as he is continuing his recovery from a broken metatarsal.

United will start the game as overwhelming favourites to win the Final, but so were Chelsea last year.

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