London (AFP)

Manchester United are defying their neighbor and City rivals in a clash between two teams which, after a difficult start, begin to heal their football, Wednesday in the semi-finals of the English League Cup, while Tottenham is ultra-favorite on Tuesday against Brentford (D2).

Since the beginning of November, Manchester United has again shaken England: the Red Devils have been unbeaten in the league since the 8th day and have left Everton in the quarterfinals of the League Cup (2-0), biting the dust a record of nine wins and two draws in eleven matches.

That may not be enough to make people forget the pitiful elimination in the Champions League after two catastrophic last group stage matches (3-1 home defeats against PSG and 3-2 in Leipzig), but ManU is everything. close to affording his first domestic trophy since winning the 2017 League Cup.

Manchester City will first have to be dismissed, before finding in the final on April 25 at Wembley, Tottenham or the 2nd division club Brentford, opposed Tuesday evening (8.45 p.m.).

"It's good to play important matches like this, but it would be even better if we started winning them and taking trophies for this club," warned Harry Maguire, the Manchester United captain.

Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer is breathing a little easier since his team once again played the leading roles in the Premier League (2nd, 33 pts).

But he will be deprived for this resounding duel of his Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani who will serve one of his three suspension matches inflicted for comments deemed racist.

- City decimated -

His Manchester City counterpart Pep Guardiola will have to compose him without no less than six usual holders.

The Citizens are indeed decimated by the coronavirus pandemic which has flanked Kyle Walker, Gabriel Jesus, Ferran Torres or Eric Garcia.

This did not prevent City from winning on Chelsea 3-1 in the league on Sunday and returning to 5th place (29 pts with one game less).

And above all, City loves the Carabao Cup, the official name of the Coupe de la Ligue, of which the Citizens are the triple title holders and where their last defeat dates back to October ... 2016!

United and City had already met last year at the same stage of the competition.

The Citizens won 3-1 in the first leg at Old Trafford but lost 1-0 in the return, without consequence.

The other semi-final is a priori more unbalanced, between Tottenham and Brentford.

A world separates the two London clubs in terms of the prize list.

But the second, who is playing his first semi-final of a national cup, is growing very quickly.

He narrowly missed accession to the Premier League last summer and is in 4th position in the 2nd Division Championship.

But for Tottenham coach José Mourinho, this match against Brentford is neither more nor less "the most important since (his) taking office" in November 2019.

"This club has been waiting for a new trophy for so long," recalled the Portuguese technician while Spurs have not won anything since the League Cup ... 2008.

The semi-finals program:

Tuesday (8:45 p.m.): Tottenham - Brentford

Wednesday (8:45 p.m.): Manchester United - Manchester City

© 2021 AFP