SOUTHAMPTON: Southampton manager Gordon Strachan is not expecting his players to enjoy today’s FA Cup semi-final against First Division Watford.
All the feisty Scot cares about is winning, and claiming a place in the FA Cup final against either Arsenal or Sheffield United to cap a season of considerable progress at St Mary’s.
“You can enjoy going to the cinema, you can enjoy going for a night out, you can enjoy going out for a meal. But football – you’ve got to win the game,” Strachan said on Southampton’s official website on Friday.
“The enjoyment comes after a win. It’s very unusual if you can play a game of football and run about going, ‘this is great fun, I’m loving this’. It has got to be won.”
Southampton have not reached the FA Cup final since 1976, when they famously beat Manchester United to win the trophy for the only time in their history.
But Strachan is confident his Premier League team can handle the pressure of being favourites at Villa Park today when they face First Division opponents for the fourth tie in succession.
“What can I say to the players? Relax lads, take it easy, take yoga classes!” Strachan said. “They’re good enough lads to get on with it.
“We’ve shown that we can handle these situations because we’ve proved it three times. If anybody says to me ‘what is it like taking on First Division opposition?’ well, we’ve done it.”
Southampton beat Premier League Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 in the third round before knocking out Millwall, Norwich and Wolves in successive rounds to reach the last four.
He expects Watford to make life difficult, though.
“They’re in the semi-final so they’re going to give it everything. I wouldn’t expect anything else. It’s their chance to make history, but it’s also our chance to make history.” – Reuters
All the feisty Scot cares about is winning, and claiming a place in the FA Cup final against either Arsenal or Sheffield United to cap a season of considerable progress at St Mary’s.
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