Ange Postecoglou believes lifting the Carabao Cup at a time when Tottenham are stricken by injuries could be a springboard to greater prizes.
Spurs sit 12th in the Premier League and have not won a match in any competition since the 4-3 victory over Manchester United on December 19 that set up Wednesday's semi-final first leg against Liverpool.
Postecoglou has traditionally viewed league form as the best barometer of his team’s progress but with 10 players out injured and Pape Sarr and James Maddison serving suspensions against Arne Slot’s side, he believes something special could be forged in adversity.
"We’re having a tough season. Our league form is really poor and we need to improve," he said.
"But we are in a semi-final of a competition and with the group of players we’ve got at the moment, if we can achieve something where they are in their careers, it sets you up really well for what we’re trying to build here. I think it does.
"It’s not the be-all and end-all, as I’ve said many times. But if we get to a final and win a trophy, we’ll look back on this period of where we are as a small group of players having to rise above and beyond to get there. That will be as worthy of the achievement as actually winning it."
Tottenham enter the showdown in north London buoyed by the knowledge that Son Heung-min will remain at the club until at least the summer of 2026 after activating an option to extend his contract.
The South Korea forward is an influential player for Spurs, scoring 169 goals in 431 appearances, but Postecoglou insists there is no rush to discuss his longer-term future.
"It’s not something that needs to be forced one way or another," he said.
"When you’ve got a player like Sonny who has such a standing at a club –
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