Red hot City welcome in store for wounded United
Reuters - Tuesday 05 January 2010, 02:00
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* Man Utd aiming to bounce back after shock FA Cup defeat
* City excited ahead of League Cup semi-final, says Given
By Martyn Herman
LONDON, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Manchester United have the perfect
opportunity to repair their battered pride on Wednesday when
they head across town to face Manchester City in the first leg
of their League Cup semi-final.
United's surprise 1-0 defeat by League One (third division)
Leeds United in the FA Cup on Sunday left Alex Ferguson fuming
and the manager will expect a backlash from his team against a
City side yet to concede a goal under new manager Roberto
Mancini.
Cash-rich City's priority is to break into the top four of
the Premier League but with the scent of a first trophy since
1976 in their nostrils and the chance to inflict further pain on
United, Wednesday's tie promises to be a full-bloodied affair.
"The fans are excited and so are the players," City keeper
Shay Given told the club's website (www.mcfc.co.uk). "These
should be two red-hot encounters."
United's defeat by Leeds was their first at home to
third-tier opponents in the FA Cup for almost 80 years and was
all the more galling for the fans as it was against a club with
whom they have a bitter rivalry.
Ferguson, who had never tasted an FA Cup third-round defeat
in more than 20 years at United, said he was "shocked and
disappointed" by Sunday's result.
The Scot has used the League Cup to rotate his squad this
season but the FA Cup setback means he will almost certainly
resist any temptation to hold back some of his big guns for the
second leg, especially with injuries stretching his defence.
"We'll make sure we're ready for Wednesday now," Ferguson
said. "We had a team in mind but there will maybe be a few
changes ... we have to get this result out of our system as
quickly as possible."
City, who beat United at the same stage in the 1969-70
League Cup, will present a formidable challenge for the holders.
An outlay approaching 200 million pounds ($322 million)
since the club was bought by Abu Dhabi billionaire Sheikh
Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan has given the long-suffering fans
genuine optimism they can, at long last, emerge from United's
shadow.
A cup semi-final also gives Mancini the chance to finish off
the job started by his predecessor Mark Hughes -- sacked before
Christmas after a run of two wins in 11 league games.
Former Inter Milan coach Mancini could not have dreamt of a
better start to life in English club management.
Wins against Stoke City and Wolverhampton Wanderers left
City fifth in the league before Saturday's 1-0 FA Cup triumph at
Middlesbrough.
"We made a good start in the FA Cup at the weekend and we
are close to a final in the League Cup," Given said.
"We have only lost twice all season so we are doing OK. One
of those was against United and I have to admit it took a long
while to get over that result."
City hope to have Brazil striker Robinho and defender Micah
Richards fit but Shaun Wright-Phillips and Roque Santa Cruz are
injury doubts and Stephen Ireland misses out.
Tuesday's semi-final between Blackburn Rovers and Aston
Villa at Ewood Park will be the second meeting of the sides in
three days after Villa knocked Rovers out of the FA Cup on
Saturday.
(Editing by Tony Jimenez. To query or comment on this story
email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)