Jamie Carragher says Tottenham’s Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City was not the fault of Ryan Mason and laid the blame firmly with the players who “bottled it”.
The former Liverpool defender accused Tottenham’s players of “lacking courage” and said interim manager Mason could not be blamed for their performance. Mason had presided over a victory in his first game in charge – against Southampton. However, he was helpless as he watched Spurs surrender at Wembley.
“It’s nothing to do with Ryan Mason at all,” Carragher said on Monday Night Football on Sky Sports. “This is a group of players who really lack courage and basically bottled it in the final really.”
Tottenham’s 13-year wait for a major trophy continued and Carragher said their meek surrender to City justified their reputation as a team who fail to perform when it matters.
“What I saw under (Mauricio) Pochettino for three or four years was outstanding. What I saw under Harry Redknapp for two or three years was outstanding as well.
“But when Spurs fans get upset, the reason people speak about them in those terms is because of games like this.
“In their last four cup finals, they haven’t scored a goal and this type of performance is why they are stuck with this tag and I can’t argue for them.
“Spurs fans can’t argue for them on the back of this performance and it is on the players, nothing to do with the manager.”
Mason was taking charge of his second game after being installed as caretaker following the sacking of Jose Mourinho.
Carragher said Tottenham’s players lost their nerve and failed to stick to their game plan, reverting instead to a long-ball game.
“They played like one of the teams who are fighting relegation. That’s what’s embarrassing. Not the manager,” he said.
“Their players didn’t have the courage to take the ball and let their goalkeeper and centre-backs play long.”
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Nagelsmann heading to Bayern
Meanwhile, Bayern have also been in the hunt for a new manager after Hansi Flick announced his intention to leave.
Tottenham’s top target to replace Jose Mourinho in north London has reportedly agreed a deal to join German giants Bayern Munich this summer.
RB Leipzig chief Julian Nagelsmann was installed as the immediate favourite to replace the Portuguese, who was shown the door by Spurs last week after overseeing a poor campaign.
Bayern have also been in the hunt for a new manager after Hansi Flick announced his intention to leave.
That has led the Bavarian giants to turn to another Bundesliga boss in the shape of Nagelsmann.
However, it will cost them a world-record compensation fee to get their man. Leipzig are reportedly demanding a whopping £26m, although they have agreed to let the 33-year-old move on.
Bild states that Bayern are ready to stump up the cash to land one of the top young managers in Europe. While the Athletic claim talks have been held with Nagelsmann heading to Bavaria this summer.
READ MORE: Ajax chasing influential Tottenham star despite talk over exit U-turn
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Tottenham’s players were “lacking courage” in their dismal Carabao Cup final defeat, according to one leading pundit
The post Mason off the hook, as pundit says Tottenham players ‘bottled it’ appeared first on TEAMtalk.TEAMtalk – Read More
