Carabao Cup semi-finals: Manchester City vs Burton, Tottenham draw Chelsea

Defending champions Manchester City will face League One side Burton in the Carabao Cup semi-finals.

Tottenham will face Chelsea in the other last-four clash, with the ties to be played over two legs in the weeks commencing 7 and 21 January.

City and Tottenham will be at home in their first legs.

It is a first major semi-final for Burton, who has only been playing in the EFL Cup for 10 years, having won the National League in 2009.

Nigel Clough's side beat Middlesbrough 1-0 on Tuesday, becoming the first team from the third tier to reach the last four since Sheffield United, managed by Clough, did so in 2014-15.

Their opponents Manchester City, who beat Leicester on penalties, have won three of the past five finals.

Tottenham, yet to win a trophy under Mauricio Pochettino, qualified for the last four with a 2-0 derby with over Arsenal on Wednesday. Chelsea, whose manager Maurizio Sarri has never won a major competition, beat Bournemouth 1-0.

Spurs beat Chelsea 3-1 in the Premier League in November.

"We are happy because, some time ago, they gave us a good footballing lesson," said Chelsea assistant boss Gianfranco Zola.
"There are a lot of proud players in our team. Of course, they will want to play this game and how we were not the ones playing in that game. Too many players under-played.

"Some of them were hurt. They will be looking forward to it."

'Never say never'

The League Cup has seen several upsets in recent years.

Bradford City, from League Two, reached the final in 2013 after beating Premier League sides Wigan, Aston Villa, and Arsenal - as well as Burton - on the way, but lost to Swansea at Wembley.

Last season Championship side Bristol City made the semi-finals by knocking out Manchester United and fellow top-flight sides Crystal Palace, Stoke City, and Watford before going down 5-3 on aggregate to Manchester City.

"Our task is not going to be an easy one at all," added Akins.

"I can imagine the bookies backing against us, but that's what cup football is all about and people will be rooting for us no doubt.

"Anything's possible, it's a cup competition. We've had some very difficult opposition in the previous rounds and we managed to pass those tests, so it's going to be another one.

"It's going to be extremely, extremely difficult, but you can never say never."