After years spent enduring the humiliation of being the trophy no one could pick out in an identity parade, suddenly there’s interest in the Carling Cup, and not just from fans eager to find out whether new Wembley is just as much of a urine-soaked hellhole as the old one. For Spurs, this is a massive chance to start convincing themselves that they are worth so much more than to be a team in transition for all eternity. For Chelsea, who have had their foot on Tottenham’s throat for so long they think shoes are made of soles, uppers and finest White Hart Lane neck, their responsibility as a member of the Big Four is to make sure that no one currently outside the Four starts getting ideas about joining the club. Winning things is terrific, especially the bit where the confetti comes out of the cannon, but keeping the money flowing is better, and competition from jumped-up fringe teams for Champions League supercash is disastrous for business. So at last a Carling final with exquisite footballing ingredients: scores to settle, resentment, paranoia and wild-eyed ambition. Hooray beer!

The statistics

* Since the Premier League began in 1992, Tottenham have won just two of thirty-six league and cup meetings against Chelsea.

* Two of the last three League Cup finals featuring Chelsea have gone to extra time.

* There have only been two draws in the last eleven league and cup meetings between the sides.

For more statistics and to place your bets, click here.