Nigel Clough: 'Premier League clubs fail to take cup competitions seriously'

Sheffield United manager Nigel Clough has criticised Premier League clubs for failing to take the League Cup "seriously", ahead of his side's semi-final second leg against Tottenham Hotspur.

The Blades are just 90 minutes away from completing another top-flight scalp and reaching Wembley following last week's slender 1-0 defeat at White Hart Lane.

They come up against a Spurs side who themselves made nine changes in the FA Cup last time out when they were beaten 2-1 at home to Leicester City.

"It's all down to the Premier League lads not taking the cups as seriously as the other players," Clough said of his side's latest cup run.

"The cups are so important to lower league players and lower-league clubs, I don't think that's matched in the Premier League. I don't think they regard it with the same importance, even when they put a full side out."

Clough has lost only twice in 19 FA and League Cup ties in charge of United.