Mark Robins insists Wednesday night’s big Carabao Cup clash with Tottenham Hotspur is a “free hit” for Coventry City against one of the most aggressive pressing sides in Europe.
The Sky Blues break off from their league campaign to entertain Spurs at the CBS Arena (8pm kick-off) knowing they will be clear underdogs, but also that there will be a hint of expectation from the Championship side that beat Premier League Wolves and were a ridiculous VAR decision away from knocking out Manchester United in a brilliant FA Cup run last season.
Asked if the players are in good spirits and looking forward to the game, the City manager said: “I think they were after the game on Saturday, having played pretty well and created a load of chances. And had we taken those and taken the win it would have given us a really good platform going into the Tottenham game. But whatever happened on Saturday wouldn’t necessarily prepare you for a Tottenham side who have the most aggressive press in Europe at the minute, with top players in their side.”
Robins, who has previously used the competition to give game time to his wider squad, admits it’s a balancing act and that he has half an eye on Saturday’s home match against Swansea while also conscious of putting out a team that will compete with the Premier League side. His opposite number Ange Postecoglou, meanwhile, has a similar issue, having lost to Arsenal on Sunday and keen to bounce back against Brentford at the weekend, while also determined to back up his bold statement that he intends to win silverware this season, with the League Cup clearly a great opportunity to achieve that.
“We have got a game on Saturday, and they have got a game on Saturday, and it’s just a nightmare trying to get a side that can compete against a really top team, to be fair, with an eye to the next game coming really quickly after it,” admitted Robins.
“I am sure they have got similar issues, but they will be pretty different to ours, but similar thoughts. We have to wait and see what they do but, for us, we have to try to navigate through an interesting few days because we want the three points on Saturday, there’s no doubt about it.”
He added: “We have got a really, really tough game and we don’t just want to turn up and be passengers. We have got to try to compete and give them a game. We know that Premier League athletes are different animals, but we have done OK against some of those teams before, so there’s always a chance. But again, it’s the same old cliché, you have got to be at your best and they have got to have a off night. But that’s not to say we won’t be having a real go, because the chance of getting through is mouth-watering.
“I think the crowd will be around 25,000 and they are bringing a few, sold their allocation out as you’d expect from a Premier League team, and it’s a mouth-watering game.”
As for how strong a side he expects Spurs to put out, Robins said: “That’s for them. We’re just looking at what we can do and making our priority. That’s all we can do. We are coming up against a Premier League side that has aspirations to win trophies. They have spent an awful lot of money on a stadium that’s magnificent. They are coming to our stadium for the first time.
“They have probably got 30-35 outstanding footballers in their squad, their decision making on the ball and the speed that they work at... It’s just brilliant to watch. They play a really high line and people have been open eyed with amazement at that, but if you can do that and condense the front end of the pitch, if teams want to play out then they have got to be really good to do that.”
He added: “I am just looking forward to the game because this, for us, is one hundred percent a free hit. One hundred percent, and we have got to go and do what we can to upset the equilibrium.”