Manchester United or Manchester City WILL win the Carabao Cup this season… thanks to the 2018 World Cup in Russia
AFTER a farcical Carabao Cup quarter-final draw, Manchester United found out they would be playing Bristol City, while Manchester City drew Leicester.
But ultimately, it didn't matter for the two Premier League giants... as one of them WILL be winning the League Cup this season.
And it's all thanks to the 2018 World Cup in Russia...
Incredibly, a Manchester club has won the League Cup in each of the last three World Cup years - while a North West club has done so in the last FOUR thanks to Blackburn in 2002.
Man United got their hands on the trophy in 2006 and 2010, while City took the spoils in 2014... and here's how.
SEHR GUT, UNITED
CAST your mind back 12 years... Sir Alex Ferguson is in charge at Old Trafford, Cristiano Ronaldo is on the books and Ruud van Nistelrooy is banging in the goals.
Welcome to 2005-06, when United got their season off to a bang with the League Cup trophy.
Fergie's men beat Barnet, West Brom, Birmingham and Blackburn to reach the final... where they trounced Wigan 4-0 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
Four months later, a host of United stars flew off to Germany to compete in the 2006 World Cup.
WOULD VU-VUZELA BELIEVE IT?
FOUR years later, prior to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and before anyone had even heard of a Vuvuzela, United were at it again.
Wayne Rooney was United's star performer in the 2009-10 season, netting 34 goals in all competitions.
Still under Ferguson's leadership, United battled past Wolves, Barnsley, Tottenham and Man City to reach the final, where they came from a goal down to beat Aston Villa at Wembley.
Fittingly, Roo scored the winner in North London before heading off to the World Cup in South Africa.
CITY BRAZILLIANT
FAST forward four years and it was City's turn to go into the World Cup break as League Cup champions.
Manuel Pellegrini lead the Etihad side to wins over Wigan, Newcastle, Leicester and West Ham - a 9-0 aggregate drubbing - to reach the final.
There, City beat Sunderland at Wembley, thanks to goals from Yaya Toure, Samir Nasri and Jesus Navas - having been a goal down thanks to a Fabio Borini strike.
A hatful of City stars then shipped off to Brazil for the 2014 World Cup... won by Germany.
TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE?
BACK to the present day and both Manchester clubs are well in with a shot of heading into the summer's World Cup as champions.
After all, both have been handed favourable draws to reach the semi-finals.
Should they both win, they could face each other in the two-legged semis - or if they are kept apart, they could play out a thrilling final on February 25.
Another League Cup win for a Manchester club would keep the omen alive and well, for at least another four years...
