Capital One Cup: City plot Sunderland ambush for season’s first trophy

Team looks to overcome shock FA Cup final defeat to Wigan Athletic.

LONDON:

Ten months on from their shock FA Cup final defeat by Wigan Athletic, Manchester City find themselves again cast as potential Goliaths ahead of Sunday’s League Cup decider against Sunderland.

As in May 2013, City will start as favourites against a team residing third from bottom in the Premier League relegation zone, but the experience of that rain-soaked Wembley day will steel them against complacency.

Then, a stoppage-time Ben Watson header gave Wigan victory, producing the biggest FA Cup final shock in 25 years and precipitating the departure of City coach Roberto Mancini, who was sacked two days later.

By then, City had already conceded the league title to Manchester United, but although Mancini’s successor, Manuel Pellegrini, has enjoyed a fine debut campaign, his side’s momentum has slowed in recent weeks with recent defeats to Chelsea and Barcelona.

While Pellegrini has played down similarities with last season’s FA Cup final, he concedes that it could prove a source of motivation for his players.

“I don’t like to talk with them about what happened last year, but I am sure for every player it is a lesson,” said the Chilean at Friday’s pre-game press conference.

“It is very beautiful to play for a title at Wembley and very awful to lose it.

“For all of them it is not revenge – it is another team, another year, another situation – but I am absolutely sure all will be 100% motivated to win.”

City’s chances have been enhanced by the news that top scorer Sergio Aguero is in contention to play after missing the last five matches with a hamstring injury.

Sunderland’s first visit to new Wembley stadium

Sunday’s game will be Sunderland’s first ever visit to the new Wembley Stadium, which opened in 2007, and their first appearance in a major final since a 2-0 loss to Liverpool in the 1992 FA Cup.

Sunderland have enjoyed great success in the cup competitions this season, having beaten both Chelsea and Manchester United en route to the League Cup final and reached the quarter-finals in the FA Cup.

Manager Gus Poyet, who succeeded the sacked Paolo Di Canio in October, continues to maintain that Premier League survival remains his top priority, but he admits that he cannot ignore the romance of a trip to Wembley.

“It’s going to be special,” said the Uruguayan, who won the FA Cup at Wembley as a player with Chelsea in 2000.

“Firstly, because I was not expecting this in my first season secondly because everything was very dark and sad when we got here.

Like his fellow South American Pellegrini, Poyet also has a strong squad, with cup-tied Liam Bridcutt the only notable absentee.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 2^nd, 2014.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.