It should be another great evening at St. James’ Park - it’s the Carabao Cup and we’re the current holders. Ultimately, the goal is going back-to-back so that starts tonight.
The motivation in the squad is really high to win this competition again. We got a taste of it last year: it’s addictive, that feeling of success. To be able to create those moments for the fans and also for us on our footballing journey, it’s amazing to feel connected to something with a larger purpose.
We want to do well in all the cups but this one holds a special place for us because it’s the first one we won as a group and the first one we’ve won in a long time.
We come into tonight’s game on the back of an important Premier League win over Fulham at the weekend. We know that our league form has not been what we’d like it to have been, so it was just about getting three points on the board.
Ideally, we would have liked to have done it in spectacular fashion but it’s not always going to be like that, and on another day we go 3-0 up in the first half. We’re producing good moments, so now it’s about being more ruthless and keep accumulating the points. Ultimately we’ll have no European football if we take our eye off the league.
Personally, I was happy to be on the scoresheet on Saturday. I’m finding myself in a good flow in the moment, so I need to keep on doing that. My teammates have been putting me in wonderful opportunities to be able to contribute with assists and goals. I need to stay locked in to make sure I keep producing the moments I can when they arrive my way.
We also know tonight will be another tough game. Tottenham have always been a really tricky opponent for a number of years and Thomas Frank has done a wonderful job with them, giving them a clear identity and clarity. They’ve got fantastic players, defensively are a lot stronger now and offensively they’re getting the goals and points they need. They’re in good form and we’re under no illusion how tricky tonight’s game is going to be.
For us, it's now three home wins in a row. Every year we’ve made St. James’ Park a fortress so we have to do our best to protect that and keep building on it.
It’s naturally become that way because of the fans and the intensity you bring. When we’re connected as one, it’s near enough the worst place for any team to come. We have to make sure we’re delivering on the pitch and feed off your fantastic support once again in the stands.
