Mancini, Fergie to square off
Source: Agencies |
January 6, 2010, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
AFTER starting his stint as Manchester City manager with three easy wins, Roberto Mancini faces his first tough test when hosting crosstown rival Manchester United in the first leg of the League Cup semifinals today.
With City's first title in 34 years in sight, Mancini is expecting a completely different performance from United than the dismal 0-1 loss to third-tier club Leeds in the FA Cup this weekend.
"We have two games to reach the final and it's important we don't forget this," said Mancini, who replaced mark Hughes last month. "We must concentrate more in the first game. We want to play well and score goals, but also we don't want to concede.
"It will be decided in the second match, because that will be the harder game."
The second leg is at Old Trafford in two weeks, and even though Mancini is new in town, he's well aware of the banner that United fans hang in the Stretford End which mocks the number of years City has endured without a trophy.
"When we get to Old Trafford we will take the banner down!" Mancini quipped. "It is the last year it will be up, for sure."
For City's crop of expensively assembled players, delivering the club's first major title since 1976 - even in England's second-tier knockout competition - is seen as a stepping stone for greater triumphs.
"We've got a great squad of players and we're all hungry for success," goalkeeper Shay Given said. "We want to do something in the Carling Cup and if we can get a run going in the FA Cup then who knows?
"It's going to be a special game for everyone on Wednesday night. We know the fans are really excited about it but so are the players. They are going to be two red-hot semifinals and it's a huge derby this one."
While the games may be hot, there are concerns that the weather will be too cold.
The first leg of the other semifinal between Blackburn and Aston Villa yesterday was called off because of heavy snowfalls making the roads to Ewood Park unsafe. In Manchester, the Eastlands ticket office and ground was closed yesterday.
In today's only Premier League match, Arsenal will play its game in hand over the rest of the top four. A victory over Bolton at Emirates Stadium would take Arsenal second in the standings, above United, and just a point behind Chelsea after 20 matches.
Arsenal's title hopes had been severely hampered by a home loss to Chelsea in November that left Arsene Wenger's side 11 points behind the leaders.
But the Gunners have since won five of its last six matches to put themselves back in contention as Chelsea and United have struggled for consistency.
Meanwhile, Mancini's preparations for the derby showdown have gone smoothly, with the Italian's new side producing three straight wins without conceding.
Stoke, Wolverhampton and Middlesbrough, though, can't be compared to United. Mancini is likely to field his strongest side today - with Carlos Tevez, the offseason defect from United, set to lead the attack.
But United manager Alex Ferguson is in a quandary about who to select. The English champion and League Cup holder has been rocked by Sunday's loss to third-tier Leeds, with Ferguson furious that his club was eliminated from the FA Cup by lower-league opposition for the first time in his 24-season reign.
The 68-year-old Scot had pledged to continue using his youngsters in the League Cup, but is now unlikely to risk fielding an inexperienced side at the City of Manchester Stadium after Sunday's letdown.
"We either go experienced, or we go youth (in the cups)," Ferguson's assistant Mike Phelan said. "Against Leeds we picked a bit of a mixture and it didn't work for us. We got found out a little bit and didn't get the result we wanted ... we need to get better."
United was fortunate to beat City when they met in the Premier League earlier this season, with Michael Owen producing the winning goal in the sixth minute of injury time. The added time is still a point of contention in the City camp.
"It took me a long while to get over it," Given said. "We played so well that day and for them to get such a late, late goal it was very difficult for everyone to swallow. We would like to get our own back for that."
With City's first title in 34 years in sight, Mancini is expecting a completely different performance from United than the dismal 0-1 loss to third-tier club Leeds in the FA Cup this weekend.
"We have two games to reach the final and it's important we don't forget this," said Mancini, who replaced mark Hughes last month. "We must concentrate more in the first game. We want to play well and score goals, but also we don't want to concede.
"It will be decided in the second match, because that will be the harder game."
The second leg is at Old Trafford in two weeks, and even though Mancini is new in town, he's well aware of the banner that United fans hang in the Stretford End which mocks the number of years City has endured without a trophy.
"When we get to Old Trafford we will take the banner down!" Mancini quipped. "It is the last year it will be up, for sure."
For City's crop of expensively assembled players, delivering the club's first major title since 1976 - even in England's second-tier knockout competition - is seen as a stepping stone for greater triumphs.
"We've got a great squad of players and we're all hungry for success," goalkeeper Shay Given said. "We want to do something in the Carling Cup and if we can get a run going in the FA Cup then who knows?
"It's going to be a special game for everyone on Wednesday night. We know the fans are really excited about it but so are the players. They are going to be two red-hot semifinals and it's a huge derby this one."
While the games may be hot, there are concerns that the weather will be too cold.
The first leg of the other semifinal between Blackburn and Aston Villa yesterday was called off because of heavy snowfalls making the roads to Ewood Park unsafe. In Manchester, the Eastlands ticket office and ground was closed yesterday.
In today's only Premier League match, Arsenal will play its game in hand over the rest of the top four. A victory over Bolton at Emirates Stadium would take Arsenal second in the standings, above United, and just a point behind Chelsea after 20 matches.
Arsenal's title hopes had been severely hampered by a home loss to Chelsea in November that left Arsene Wenger's side 11 points behind the leaders.
But the Gunners have since won five of its last six matches to put themselves back in contention as Chelsea and United have struggled for consistency.
Meanwhile, Mancini's preparations for the derby showdown have gone smoothly, with the Italian's new side producing three straight wins without conceding.
Stoke, Wolverhampton and Middlesbrough, though, can't be compared to United. Mancini is likely to field his strongest side today - with Carlos Tevez, the offseason defect from United, set to lead the attack.
But United manager Alex Ferguson is in a quandary about who to select. The English champion and League Cup holder has been rocked by Sunday's loss to third-tier Leeds, with Ferguson furious that his club was eliminated from the FA Cup by lower-league opposition for the first time in his 24-season reign.
The 68-year-old Scot had pledged to continue using his youngsters in the League Cup, but is now unlikely to risk fielding an inexperienced side at the City of Manchester Stadium after Sunday's letdown.
"We either go experienced, or we go youth (in the cups)," Ferguson's assistant Mike Phelan said. "Against Leeds we picked a bit of a mixture and it didn't work for us. We got found out a little bit and didn't get the result we wanted ... we need to get better."
United was fortunate to beat City when they met in the Premier League earlier this season, with Michael Owen producing the winning goal in the sixth minute of injury time. The added time is still a point of contention in the City camp.
"It took me a long while to get over it," Given said. "We played so well that day and for them to get such a late, late goal it was very difficult for everyone to swallow. We would like to get our own back for that."
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