Manchester City v Manchester United
Saturday, 16 April 2011
FA Cup Semi Final, Wembley, 5.15pm
It’s approximately 4.45pm on Sunday, 30 May 1999, and 14 year old me is in floods of tears. The rest of the pub looks in my direction confused as to what could have happened to set this teenager off. You see, no one else cares about the Division 2 Playoff Final. I do.
Manchester City are 2-0 down to Gillingham and look set for another year in English football’s third tier when two goals in quick succession turn the game on its head. The rest, to use a tired cliché, is history.
Now, 12 years on, City are back at Wembley to face the enemy, Manchester United, in the semi final of the FA Cup.
How will it go? The optimist in me says City will nick it 1-0, the pessimist says we haven’t a hope given the last week of football. The realist thinks anything is possible, but a United victory is the most likely outcome.
Monday’s crushing Premier League defeat as well as the loss of talisman Carlos Tevez to a potentially season ending injury has left City a lot worse off than they were this time last week.
The game itself was a complete write off from a blue point of view. Mancini’s insistence of playing Edin Dzeko in a side with inverted wingers has left many fans frustrated, as did the decision to leave two key components of the team’s spine – Nigel De Jong and David Silva – on the bench.
However the players seem upbeat ahead of the game and full back Aleksander Kolarov is relishing the prospect of taking on United in his biggest game in England so far.
“I knew that the dream of many players is to play at Wembley, because everyone in football knows what it means to play there,” he said.
“I have the chance to play there, against United in such a big game and it is a real honour for me to play there for City.
“Seriously, I was very happy with the draw. We knew before the home game against Reading that we would play United if we won, and to draw them in a semi-final makes it almost like a final.
“Winning would give us a great opportunity to win the FA Cup – Bolton and Stoke are good teams and we respect them, but I think we are better. If we can beat United in a semi-final it will give us a great chance.”
United have played in ten semi finals under Sir Alex Ferguson and have lost just one, in 2009, and would have to be seen as favourites going into the game. The absence of Wayne Rooney is obviously a blow but with Javier Hernandez looking more than impressive every week and the league’s top scorer Dimitar Berbatov in their ranks, there is more than enough cover up front.
The much maligned Michael Carrick has enjoyed a purple patch recently and could start in the middle of the park alongside Brazilian Anderson, though Ryan Giggs will no doubt be keen to play again having starred against Chelsea midweek.
Midfielder Paul Scholes has stoked the fires in the run up to the game, stating that he does not see City as a major rival.
“When they are fourth or fifth [in the league], I don’t think they can be classed as a main rival,” he said.
“Our main rivals are obviously Arsenal and Chelsea. I think City are just a rival because of where they are [geographically] and Liverpool the same.”
The veteran went on the express his excitement at the prospect of playing City in such a high profile game.
“It’s an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, it’s massive, there will be 30,000 fans from each side… it’s the biggest game we’ve had against City for a while. Whoever loses will be devastated,” he said.
“I remember the 5-1 defeat in 1989 and Andy Hinchcliffe scoring that goal. It’s painful. I can also remember going to Maine Road and losing 3-1 [in 2002] and it’s horrible. You hate losing against anybody, but City? It’s bad.”
If anything, the above words should be enough of a motivator for the Manchester City players to go out all guns blazing. The question is do they care enough? Will the heart and drive be there?
One thing is for sure – Ferguson will have his side fired up, and anything less from City will see them blown out of the water.
Key Players:
Manchester City – Nigel De Jong
If you want evidence as to how important Nigel De Jong is to City’s midfield you just need to re-watch Monday night’s game with Liverpool. Jay Spearing and Lucas bossed the midfield at Anfield, something which they wouldn’t have gotten away with had De Jong be on the pitch. The tough tackling Dutchman has returned from injury recently and put a great showing against Sunderland a fortnight ago. If City are to stand a chance of reaching the final then the back four will need De Jong’s protection.
Manchester United – Nani
Somehow overlooked for the PFA Player of the Year shortlist, Nani continues to terrorise defences on a weekly basis. Having emerged from the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo at Old Trafford, he has become an integral part of the side and chips in with more than his fair share of goals. With City suspect at full back, he will no doubt see a lot of the ball on Saturday.
Prediction:
It’s tough to see a City win, even though it’s an ‘anything goes’ derby. The Liverpool defeat and loss of Tevez exposed a number of weaknesses in Mancini’s side that can’t really be addressed at such short notice. Ideally City will score first and hold on for a win but I think United will grab an early goal before sealing the win late on. Looks like the pessimist won out in the end!
City 0
United 2 (Nani, Hernandez)
Thanks to xavi6 of www.mancityfans.net for this FA CUP Semi Final Preview