Branislav Ivanovic: 'League Cup success could be crucial'

Branislav Ivanovic has claimed that winning the League Cup could hand Chelsea a vital boost in their bid to triumph in three competitions this season.

Chelsea meet Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley this Sunday for the first trophy of the campaign, and Ivanovic believes that edging out their London rivals could prove to be pivotal as they look to succeed in the Premier League and Champions League.

"Psychologically it's very important," the Serbian told Chelsea's official website.

"After the game we will just have the league and the Champions League to focus on, but winning this final could give us a massive psychological advantage before the last few months of the season. We need to take that and use it.

"It's very important not just for me but for all of us. This group of players with this manager hasn't won a trophy yet so it's massive for us."

This Sunday's game is a repeat of the 2008 final, which Spurs won 2-1 in extra time.