LONDON • Burton Albion will need a "miracle" to overcome the might of English Premier League champions Manchester City over two legs in the League Cup semi-finals, said manager Nigel Clough.
The son of legendary manager Brian Clough, who led Nottingham Forest to two European Cups triumphs in 1979 and 1980, is also no stranger to producing Cup upsets.
Clough was in his first spell in charge when Burton, then in English football's fifth tier, held a Manchester United side boasting Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney 0-0 in the FA Cup in 2006.
Burton have since progressed to the third tier and are lying ninth in League One, but Clough believes stopping Pep Guardiola's City, particularly when they travel to the Etihad today, is an even tougher task.
"I think this one over two legs," said Clough, when asked to compare which was the tougher challenge.
"When Rooney and Ronaldo came on after 59 minutes here for Manchester United, it's a similar sort of prospect with the likes of the quality that Manchester City have.
"But, away from home, it's a different thing. When they are on their own patch, as you saw against Liverpool (City won 2-1), they're as good and as confident as anything."
DAVID VERSUS GOLIATH
We've not gone into any detail with them (the players) because that will frighten the life out of them. They know. They watch Match of the Day every week. They know exactly how good they are.
NIGEL CLOUGH, Burton Albion manager, on preparing his players for the two-legged semi-final against Manchester City.
Clough also masterminded Sheffield United's run to the last four of both the League and FA Cups when in League One in two seasons at Bramall Lane between 2013 and 2015.
However, in eliminating Championship sides Aston Villa, Forest and Middlesbrough and Premier League strugglers Burnley, Burton have not yet faced any team of City's calibre.
"We've not gone into any detail with them (the players) because that will frighten the life out of them," admitted Clough.
"They know. They watch Match of the Day every week. They know exactly how good they are.
"To reach the League Cup semi-final, in some ways the job is done.
"But we still have an outside chance of achieving a miracle, and that's what we'll try for."
City, meanwhile, are still in the hunt for four competitions.
After closing the gap on Liverpool to four points at the top of the Premier League, they thrashed Rotherham 7-0 on Sunday in the third round of the FA Cup.
Guardiola's men will also face Schalke in the last 16 of the Champions League next month.
"We do what we have to do to become a great, great club," said the Spaniard.
"The great clubs don't choose competitions, don't choose games, you have to do your job.
"I would like to have two months' holiday right now, definitely - this month is really tough, but it is what it is.
"We want to become a top club and you cannot deny any game, we cannot drop any competition. We are going to play the next game like a final."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
MAN CITY V BURTON ALBION
StarHub Ch202 & Singtel TV Ch111, tomorrow, 3.40am
"At times we played really good football but it can, and it must be, a lot better on Sunday," said Van Dijk. "There were times where we did not put enough pressure on them and were sloppy and lost the ball. "Against Germany we can expect a completely different game and we all realise that. We know what we are capable of."
Dec 22, 2018 · Jesse Lingard scored twice as Manchester United celebrated its first match under the new coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with a 5-1 victory at Cardiff in the Premier League on Saturday.
Man United's turnaround under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is
Jun 06, 2012 · The Guardian - Back to home. Slaven Bilic: 'Croatia can win it. When we take off, it's an explosion' At Croatia, we have always tried to play and we always look better when our opponents
Croatia (handball) live score, schedule and results - SofaScore
PARIS (AFP) - Neymar has paid a visit to Brazilian football legend Pele, who has been in hospital in Paris since April 3. The Paris Saint-Germain forward posted a photo on his Instagram account on
Neymar visits recovering Pele in hospital | Sport24
Sarri: 'Chelsea hard to motivate' By Football Italia staff Maurizio Sarri was furious with "difficult to motivate" Chelsea after a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal, but insisted he knows nothing about
Furious Maurizio Sarri says Chelsea players lack motivation
Manchester United's Champions League hopes were hanging by a thread after a 2-0 home defeat by Paris St Germain in their round-of-16, first leg match on Tuesday, with talisman Paul Pogba sent off
PSG take charge with 2-0 win at United, Pogba sent off
AFC Wimbledon produced the shock of the FA Cup fourth round by dispatching Premier League West Ham in impressive style. West Ham were stunned in the fourth round of the FA Cup as they suffered a 4
'It's got the feel of the old Wimbledon': Downes and Hodges
France coach Didier Deschamps said on Monday that Olympique Lyonnais left back Ferland Mendy will join Real Madrid. FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - OGC Nice v Olympique Lyonnais - Allianz
Soccer-Ferland Mendy set for Real move, says France coach
Jun 01, 2019 · Mohamed Salah's early penalty and Divock Origi's late strike gave Liverpool a 2-0 win over Tottenham in the Champions League final right arm to give away the penalty. It gave Salah the
Soccer-Salah, Origi strike to give Liverpool Champions League
Jose Mourinho says he has rejected three job offers since his sacking by Manchester United before aiming a dig at his former club over transfers. Mourinho was dismissed for the third time in
Jose Mourinho reveals deadline for return to football after
Football: Southampton stun fading Spurs, Newcastle edge five-goal Everton thriller Tottenham's Harry Kane reacts as Southampton's Maya Yoshida looks on at St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain
Southampton stun fading Spurs, Newcastle edge five-goal
Messi calls for search to continue for missing Sala, Football
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk insists he will not face a personal duel against Lionel Messi in his side's Champions League semi-final against Barcelona. I cannot stop Messi alone, admits
0 comments:
Post a Comment