Antonio Conte has admitted it is nice for his Tottenham side to draw former club Chelsea in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.
The Lilywhites sealed their spot in the last four by dispatching West Ham 2-1 - the Hammers had previously eliminated Manchester United and Manchester City - courtesy of goals from Steven Bergwijn and Lucas Moura.
With City out of the competition, a trophy is there to be won by any of the remaining four sides, but Conte claimed the standard of the teams left in the tournament remains high.
He said: “For sure it will be nice for me. I spent two amazing seasons with Chelsea and I enjoyed a lot, but now I am the manager of Tottenham and I am ready to give everything for this club.
"When you reach the semi-final, for sure in England to lift the trophy is very difficult. You find Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal [in the draw].”
Conte also said he would be in favour of one-leg semi-finals, with two matches scheduled to take place between Spurs and Chelsea for a spot in the final.
He added: “Honestly, if I had to decide, maybe it would be to play one game and not two games – especially, I repeat, for the situation we are living – but we have to respect the rules.”
Spurs were beaten finalists in the Carabao Cup last season and it's the last trophy they won as a club, that success coming all the way back in 2008.
Liverpool and Arsenal will contest the other semi-final and Reds boss Jurgen Klopp echoed Conte's thoughts on the fixture congestion.
After their penalty shootout win against Leicester, the German said: “I think it would be better with one game absolutely, but obviously what I say is not too important.
"If there are two games, then we will play two games. But it would be helpful if there was only one. The draw has us at Arsenal – I’m fine with that, we play there and see who is better and go for it.”
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Source : 90min