Carlos, King Of The Metaphors, Abdicates And Says He’d Rather Just Shut Up

For once, Carlos Carvalhal kept it zipped after Swansea City were undone by a far superior Tottenham to bow out of the FA Cup at the quarter-final stage.

Saturday’s 3-0 defeat meant an end to any dreams of improving on the Swans’ famous 1964 journey to the semi-finals, an outcome the Portuguese manager felt best spoke for itself.

Carvalhal is now widely admired for his colorful and often lengthy descriptions of his team, and much else besides, but gave his briefest analysis yet after only his third defeat in 17 matches.

“When you lose 3-0, it’s better to just shut up and go home,” said Carvalhal, when asked for his views on the VAR technology that again caused delays during the tie.

“I don’t know anything about that. My focus is to try and stay in the Premier League with Swansea.

“We were always completely focused on the Premier League. Now Andre Ayew and Andy King can play and we can move forward.

“I am not disappointed. After the storm comes the good weather.

“They have a very good side. I said before to achieve something, we must be at our best and they must be not so good. We know there is a gap and that they are better.

“They were full of energy and very good. It was a credit to them that they respect us and had analysed us. So, they were the best team on the pitch.

“There were crucial moments in the game. We expected to go 1-0 down at half-time so it was a very bad time to concede another goal.

“At the start of the second-half, if we had scored with Tammy, then you never know what might have happened. It was a key moment.

“But the FA Cup has been a fantastic run for us – our best run since 1964.

“It’s not created any harm or damage for the future. We lost to a quality team who played well and scored fantastic goals.”

Mauricio Pochettino believes Tottenham have overcome their Wembley woes just in time to end their one-year stay at the stadium by winning the FA Cup.

Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino. Pic: Getty Images.

The Spurs manager moved to within two victories of lifting his first trophy – and both the semi-final and possible final will be at the club’s temporary home – after a comfortable victory.

Two goals from Christian Eriksen, and another in between for Erik Lamela, put Spurs into the last four for the second successive season.

It might have been a bigger winning margin if Son Heung-Min’s effort had not been ruled out for offside, but this time the VAR review backed up the assistant’s decision to flag.

“There is still a long way to go, but now we are into the semi-final,” said Pochettino.

“It (a trophy) is an option now. At the same time, just when you feel close to winning something, then you can be far away.

“We are going to try to win the semi-final and get to the final. Of course, it would be fantastic for the club to win a trophy.

“Eriksen was fantastic, so important for us. Every season he takes one step up, today he was fantastic. He is so consistent.”

“We have been playing in different Cup competitions and the League, which is difficult, so I’m so happy and proud.”

Spurs found their move to Wembley, whlist White Hart lane is rebuilt, an awkward one at the start of the season. Their first three Premier League games there included a defeat to Chelsea and draws with Burnley and Swansea.

Pochettino added: “Seven months ago, everyone said playing there at Wembley horrendous. That was the feeling and the perception.

“But, it has changed. We feel comfortable there and so do the fans.”

Eriksen also enjoys playing, and beating, the Swans. His two goals made it eight in 10 matches against them.

It was the perfect response by Pochettino’s side after they had crashed out of their other trophy pursuit following defeat to Juventus in the Champions League.

They were never threatened by a Swansea team that can now concentrate on trying to preserve their Premier league status.

There was also a VAR delay before referee Kevin Friend awarded Eriksen his opener, following a review of a possible foul on Swansea’s Martin Olsson.

Pochettino is no fan of the new system that is to be used at the World Cup this summer and added: “It’s a nightmare. I feel so sorry for the people trying to use that system.

“I think I prefer it when the ref and assistant make mistakes, than to wait three or four minutes for things.

“But we now need to see the reality of how it is going to affect the staff on the touchline and the officials.

“It is so complex, but the worst thing for me is the effect for the fan. It is going to be a  massive problem for the future.

“We will see what happens at the World Cup.”

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