As Clinton says, Tottenham fans loved Maurico Pochettino, but those feelings went the other way too...

Clinton Morrison
Former Crystal Palace striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Tottenham fans loved Mauricio Pochettino - they didn't want him to go - but at the end of the day, they wanted trophies.

Everyone complains about how Jose Mourinho plays football but if he delivers trophies, then I think the Tottenham fans will be happy.

They have a great opportunity but tonight won't be easy because Brentford are a really good team. I expect Brentford to dominate possession and Tottenham play on the counter-attack, like they usually do.

Tottenham

• R3 v Leyton Orient A (Spurs given the victory as Orient were unable to field a team after positive Covid-19 tests)
• R4 1-1 v Chelsea H (5-4 on pens)
• QF 3-1 v Stoke A

Brentford

• R1 1-1 v Wycombe H (4-2 on pens)
• R2 2-0 v Southampton A
• R3 2-2 v West Brom A (5-4 on pens)
• R4 3-0 v Fulham H
• QF 1-0 v Newcastle H

Michael Devlin: As a United fan it pains me to say this, but I don’t see anyone but City lifting that cup.

These guys have the chance to make themselves club legends tonight.

It's been a tough start to 2021 so we all need something to put a smile on our faces.

Hopefully you will enjoy this goal, a real thing of beauty with a dream spin and a backheeled nutmeg. Wonderful.

Watch below as Bayer Leverkusen's Nadiem Amiri scores a wonder goal in his side's 2-1 defeat by Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.

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Tottenham make five changes from the side which saw off Leeds in a strong line-up. Jose Mourinho has Wembley in his sights.

Serge Aurier, Sergio Reguilon and Davinson Sanchez play in defence instead of Matt Doherty, Ben Davies and Toby Alderweireld, while Lucas Moura and Moussa Sissoko play instead of Steven Bergwijn and Harry Winks.

Tottenham: Lloris, Reguilon, Sanchez, Aurier, Hojberg, Dier, Sissoko, Moura, Ndombele, Son, Kane.

Substitutes: Hart, Alderweireld, Tanganga, Davies, Winks, Alli, White, Bergwijn, Vinicius.

Brentford, fourth in the Championship, make just one change - former Leeds centre-half Pontus Janssonsits out and Mads Sorensen comes in.

Brentford: Raya, Heny, Pinnock, Dalsgaard, Bech, Jensen, Da Silva, Janelt, Canos, Toney, Mbeumo.

Substitutes: Daniels, Rasmussen, Stevens, Marcondes, Haygarth, Forss, Ghoddos, Fosu, Gilbert.

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham midfielder Moussa Sissoko, speaking to Sky Sports: We have got a great opportunity to reach the final against a good opponent, who are doing very well.

"We have to take these games seriously, play our game and hopefully, we can qualify for the final. [Jose Mourinho] told us to take Brentford seriously. They are doing very well in the Championship.

"It's a semi-final, so everyone wants to fight and play well. We have a big battle to make sure we can go through.

"We have to start the game well, focus on every aspect, be strong defensively and go forward - don't sit back. We know they are going to push, we have to make them defend and if we do that again, it will be more open."

Lillie O'Neil: I think Brentford are going to give us a good game and we will make it hard on ourselves but I think Spurs will win.

Joe: I really hope we take Brentford seriously. They are a decent side.

No messing about from either manager with those teams. Good to see. Go strong.

Harry Kane and Son Heung-min are both in the Tottenham starting line-up.

As always we want your thoughts, observations and jokes on tonight's match, but also tell us which team is going to be lifting the Carabao Cup trophy in April and why?

Tweet us using the hashtag #bbcfootball and we will stick your messages in this very page throughout the evening.

A high-profile fan for the night for Brentford.

Liam Gallagher's beloved Manchester City take on Manchester United at Old Trafford tomorrow in the second semi-final with the final at Wembley on 25 April (moved from its February date in the hope some fans can attend).

Championship side Brentford have beaten four Premier League clubs to reach their first ever domestic semi-final.

"We need to look at this semi-final with this ambition, respecting a very, very good team who kicked a few very good Premier League teams out of the competition," added Jose Mourinho.

And while Danish boss Thomas Frank respects his opposite number, he does not appear to be overawed by the challenge posed.

"I have studied football for many years and Jose is one of the greatest of all time so it's a privilege to play against his team," he said.

"I admire him a lot for having that fantastic career. But when the whistle blows it's just another bloke standing in the dug-out. I'm still pretty sure he also goes to the toilet sometimes!"

Jose Mourinho says the Carabao Cup semi-final against Brentford is the biggest game he has faced since taking charge of Tottenham.

Mourinho, appointed in November 2019, is hoping to lead Spurs to their first major trophy since 2008.

"After more than one decade, every competition becomes more important - and if we win two matches, we win a trophy," Mourinho said.

Asked if this was the most important game of his tenure so far, Mourinho added: "In the perspective of the club chasing silverware for many years, I would say so. Two difficult matches, of course, but if we win [them] we get a trophy, which would be a very good thing for the club and the players."

Mourinho has won the competition four times. It provided him with his first trophy in English football at Chelsea in 2005 and he won it twice more with them before a further success at Manchester United in 2017.

Hello and welcome along to BBC Sport's coverage of the first Carabao Cup semi-final as Tottenham take on Brentford.

I'm Michael Emons and I'll be talking you through the action, with kick-off at 19:45 GMT.

We've got live commentary of the match on BBC Radio 5 Live and it could be a long night with extra-time and penalties a possibility.

Image source, Getty Images

You have to go back to 2008 for the last time Tottenham won a trophy, beating Chelsea 2-1 in the Wembley final to lift the Carling Cup.

Now Spurs are one game away from reaching the Carabao Cup final and start off as favourites tonight against Brentford - the only Championship side left in the competition.

Image source, Getty Images

But Brentford, playing in the semi-finals for the first time, are not to be underestimated. Just ask Southampton. And West Brom. And Fulham. And Newcastle.

So, can Jose Mourinho take Tottenham to Wembley or will the Bees provide a sting in the tail and cause another shock?