I support the growing calls for axing the League Cup. After all, why does England need two cup competitions? It seems unnecessary. And after a hectic period of fixtures, including the increasingly maligned third round of the FA Cup, a two-legged semi for what is ostensibly England’s fourth tournament in terms of importance, genuinely feels like overkill.
Yet, when said two-legged semifnal comes around, I can’t help but actually look forward to it. This may well be, because like cup competitions on the continent, it takes place in midweek. In fact, this is probably the reason I generally tend to like this competition more than the FA Cup. It doesn’t take place at the expense of league fixtures.
There’s also the fact that these semis have consistently delivered compelling contests. Last season we had Chelsea vs Spurs face off over two legs, the season before that Arsenal vs Chelsea and this season both matchups are derbies. One can’t deny the allure of big teams taking on each other in quick succession for an aggregate victory. The story seems that little bit longer, a few more twists and turns to relish. It’s almost like the perfect appetizer in January, before the main course of two-legged European football commences in February. I may well forget the significance as early as April, but I for one am hoping that we will get to see four entertaining matches featuring City, United, Leicester and Villa.