Neville: ‘We’re starting to build up momentum’
English football’s true giants square up at the Millennium Stadium on March 2 in a mouth-watering confrontation both the Football League and their sponsors will raise a glass to.
After treating the competition as little more than an opportunity to give squad men and youth team players a run out in seasons gone by, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side were installed as 20-1 shots before the competition began.
Those odds tumbled as it became obvious Ferguson’s selection policy has changed and now they head to their first Cardiff final looking to overturn Liverpool’s 1983 extra-time win in the same competition.
“We have treated this competition very seriously from the beginning,” said Neville. “Anyone who had a bet on us winning it would probably have got very high odds and now we are looking forward to a final against Liverpool.
“Any final is special. They are all magical occasions. The Millennium Stadium is one of the best grounds I have every played in. We have only met Liverpool there once, when they beat us in the Charity Shield. Now we are looking to reverse that result.”
Paul Scholes’ first half double, which extended his scoring streak to six games, and a late Ruud van Nistelrooy penalty swept United into their first final since the famous Champions League-clinching night in Barcelona three years ago.
It is nine years since the Red Devils reached a League Cup final, while only Ryan Giggs remains from the side which captured the trophy for the only time, back in 1992, when Brian McClair grabbed the winner against Nottingham Forest.
Ironically, current Old Trafford skipper Roy Keane was in the opposition lineup that day and the Irishman will be hoping for better fortune as his team continue their quest for an unmatched four-timer.
If anyone can achieve the ultimate clean sweep, it is United. But even Ferguson will realise the chances of success on all fronts is practically impossible.
While the opposition alone will ensure Ferguson names nothing less than his strongest lineup against Liverpool, he must balance the practicalities of hauling back Arsenal’s five-point lead at the top of the Premiership, a soon-to-be-resumed Champions League campaign in which his team look well set for a quarter-final berth, and a continued run in the FA Cup.
Already, fixture congestion is becoming a factor. The Worthington Cup final appearance means the Premiership clash with Leeds, scheduled for the previous day must be rearranged, while the potential title-deciding crunch with Arsenal at Highbury will almost certainly have to be shifted from its current April 21 slot because of a clash with the Champions League quarter-finals.
At first glance, there are only three midweek dates available, one of which coincides with the build-up to England’s Euro 2004 qualifier with Liechtenstein.
It gives an added twist to West Ham’s FA Cup visit on Sunday, given the ailing Londoners are still clinging to the memory of their famous Old Trafford win at the same stage two years ago.
Not that Neville is willing to concede there is any chance of United taking it easy.
“We started to build up some momentum now and it is important we keep that going until the end of the season,” he said.
“We know there will be two matches a week for the rest of the year, and possibly more frequent than that at some stage.
“But slowly we have got everyone fit. Nicky Butt came on last night for the first time in a while and that means the manager will be able to switch his team around.
“Not that anyone will be wanting to miss games.
“The Champions League is about to start again, we are doing well in the Premiership, are still in the FA Cup and now have the Worthington Cup to look forward to. Everyone will want to be part of it.”
Butt’s return after three months on the sidelines following an ankle operation means than only Quinton Fortune remains sidelined of Ferguson’s first-team regulars.
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