It's all white now - Woodgate ends Spurs' 9-year trophy drought
Jonathan Woodgate headed the extra-time winner that earned Tottenham the Carling Cup, then insisted it would be the first of many trophies. Spurs' 2-1 victory over holders Chelsea continued a phenomenal run in knockout competitions for manager Juande Ramos and ended the club's nine-year wait for silverware since they last lifted the League Cup in 1999.
Woodgate said after netting his first goal for more than two years: "It is not often you get to score the winner in a cup final and it's a great feeling. We have won the trophy and hopefully we will win many more. We have the calibre of players to go on and win things. We showed that all game.
Woodgate caps brilliant Spurs fightback in Carling Cup Final
GALLERY: How Spurs won the Carling Cup
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"It's my first goal since Real Madrid. To be honest, I wasn't planning on going up. It was either me or Ledley King. JJ (Jenas) put a great ball in and I just took a chance."
Didier Drogba's free-kick had given Chelsea a first-half lead before Dimitar Berbatov equalised from the penalty spot after Wayne Bridge handled. The win came four months into Ramos's reign and took his cup successes to six in three seasons.
The Spurs manager said: "It's tremendously satisfying to get the title and the trophy. It has been a long time since we've achieved success like this and, for a club as big as Tottenham, such a period without a trophy seems longer. This one perhaps has a special flavour because it was against a side who were supposedly superior to us, so it's similar to Sevilla playing against the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid and beating them."
The Spaniard allowed his players to stray from their diet as the celebrations continued last night, saying: "It's not a particularly strict diet. Sometimes it allows them to eat and drink totally out of control — and, yes, that includes champagne."
Chelsea boss Avram Grant was left complaining about the penalty which gave Spurs a route back. He said: "We hadn't started the game well. We got better, scored a goal, then the second half, until we conceded, we were dominant, and the penalty gave Tottenham a way back. Very disappointing. It was a rash decision."
The Israeli defended his decision to start with Drogba and Nicolas Anelka, even though the France striker struggled on the left of an attacking trio.
"That was the first time they've played together and I think it will be a good combination,' Grant said. 'It wasn't an easy game for them. We wanted to play Anelka on the side because he's a creative player and quick."
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy said: "We've had lots of good moments at Tottenham but it's a wonderful feeling to lift the cup and I'm very proud of the team and all the coaches.
"There was no pressure on Ramos and clearly it's a wonderful achievement for him but, really, the players deserve a lot of credit. 'We hope we've got a very good manager and I think he's proved that today."
Woodgate said after netting his first goal for more than two years: "It is not often you get to score the winner in a cup final and it's a great feeling. We have won the trophy and hopefully we will win many more. We have the calibre of players to go on and win things. We showed that all game.
Woodgate caps brilliant Spurs fightback in Carling Cup Final
GALLERY: How Spurs won the Carling Cup
The first date with destiny for Hutton, a Spurs legend in the making Jose would not have blown it
"It's my first goal since Real Madrid. To be honest, I wasn't planning on going up. It was either me or Ledley King. JJ (Jenas) put a great ball in and I just took a chance."
Didier Drogba's free-kick had given Chelsea a first-half lead before Dimitar Berbatov equalised from the penalty spot after Wayne Bridge handled. The win came four months into Ramos's reign and took his cup successes to six in three seasons.
The Spurs manager said: "It's tremendously satisfying to get the title and the trophy. It has been a long time since we've achieved success like this and, for a club as big as Tottenham, such a period without a trophy seems longer. This one perhaps has a special flavour because it was against a side who were supposedly superior to us, so it's similar to Sevilla playing against the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid and beating them."
The Spaniard allowed his players to stray from their diet as the celebrations continued last night, saying: "It's not a particularly strict diet. Sometimes it allows them to eat and drink totally out of control — and, yes, that includes champagne."
Chelsea boss Avram Grant was left complaining about the penalty which gave Spurs a route back. He said: "We hadn't started the game well. We got better, scored a goal, then the second half, until we conceded, we were dominant, and the penalty gave Tottenham a way back. Very disappointing. It was a rash decision."
The Israeli defended his decision to start with Drogba and Nicolas Anelka, even though the France striker struggled on the left of an attacking trio.
"That was the first time they've played together and I think it will be a good combination,' Grant said. 'It wasn't an easy game for them. We wanted to play Anelka on the side because he's a creative player and quick."
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy said: "We've had lots of good moments at Tottenham but it's a wonderful feeling to lift the cup and I'm very proud of the team and all the coaches.
"There was no pressure on Ramos and clearly it's a wonderful achievement for him but, really, the players deserve a lot of credit. 'We hope we've got a very good manager and I think he's proved that today."
posted by dgarden at 8:56 am
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