Former Stoke manager Lou Macari: Don’t write off Stoke City in the FA Cup
Former Stoke City manager, Lou Macari, has claimed that his former side has the same chance of winning the FA Cup final as their big spending opposition, Manchester City. Both teams will go head-to-head in the final at Wembley Stadium on the May 14, 2011.
Manchester City are the overwhelming favourites to lift the title. The Sky Blues have been on the rise ever since the new owner, Sheikh Mansour, took over the club; the talent on the Manchester City substitute bench alone can put the entire Stoke City line-up
to shame. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Roberto-c31294 Mancini’s men will also have momentum on their side, as they recently ensured their place in next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Few have given Stoke City a chance in the contest. However, Lo Macari has urged people to think twice before placing their money on a Manchester City victory. Macari believes that the two teams are evenly matched on the pitch, regardless of the difference
in players’ salaries. He claims that the encounter could go either way; and he has predicted that whichever team scores first will go on to win the match.
Speaking ahead of the contest, Macari said, “"I can't believe Stoke are 4/1. I'd give Stoke as good a chance as City on the day and I just think whoever gets a break somewhere along the way and gets their noses in front may be the winning team. I don't think
there's a great deal between the two sides and I think that sums up how well Tony's (Pulis) done and how far Stoke have come in the last two or three years."
The former Stoke boss went on to add that all the pressure will be on Manchester City to prove that the millions that are being invested in the cub are not going to waste. Macari believes that the Sky Blues will be expected to win the FA Cup, which might
just give Stoke a chance to catch them off-guard. It is a phenomenon that Macari has himself experienced during his time with Manchester United.
Macari added, “"I experienced it with United. We went to the cup final in 1976 against Southampton with unbelievable pressure on us because every man and his dog expected us to win. I remember as if it was yesterday sitting in that dressing room before the
game and all the pressure was on us. I just felt we had to go out there and win, and we didn't.”
Stoke City are currently in eighth place in the Barclays Premier League standings with 46 points.
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