‘In my soul and heart I’m a hero’
he collect another medal, he promises to be a bit more careful.
“That would be nice. I hope it will happen,” he said. “If we win, hopefully this time I will look after the medal.”
Fabregas, who married longterm partner Daniella Semaan about one player,” he said. “My job was made easier by the guys in front of me.
“Before the game I was telling Marcus, Jesse Lingard, Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini to put the pressure on their defenders and midfielders so the ball into Hazard isn’t as good.
“The more difficult the pass to him, the easier my job will be. Football is not about one player, it is about 11, or even 14.”
Herrera was not born when his dad enjoyed his finest moment as Zaragoza beat Barcelona in the final to win the 1986 Copa del Rey, and never saw him play live.
“When I was born he had retired because of a knee injury but I’ve watched some videos,” on Tuesday, remembers that 2005 final well – and especially his clash with United’s midfield enforcer Roy Keane.
“In England, the FA Cup is one of the big trophies,” he said. “Everyone talks about the Champions League, the World Cup, the Euros, but if you are a bit of a romantic, the FA Cup is always special.
“The crowds are always full, even from the first game of the competition. It is not easy to get into FA Cup finals.
“We have to value that, go into it knowing that if we win, we are winning a special he said. “We were quite different as players. He used to play in midfield but on the left and as more of a traditional winger when teams used to play with two strikers – he was more a midfielder than attacker.
“He used to have a very good arrival in the box, which is something I can improve on.
“He used to work very hard too and was always one of the guys who ran the most kilometres, so we share that in common.”
Today United aim to finish the season with some silverware for the third year in a row, and Herrera admits the pressure has been increased by the success of their big rivals, champions Manchester City and Champions League finalists Liverpool. “If I could have chosen at the start of the season who wins the Premier League and the Champions League – if it wasn’t us – then I wouldn’t have said City or Liverpool,” he admits.
“I respect them, I don’t hate them, but I wouldn’t have chosen them.
“This will be my fifth final in two years and if we can win the cup to go with finishing runners-up we can go on our holidays very happy.” heroes for Chelsea’s fans. Now our status, me and the players, has changed. But in my soul and my heart I’m always a hero because I gave 120 per cent this season to solve the problems.
“Our job is very difficult. This season, I worked better than last. And, for sure, I worked harder.
“I didn’t change my commitment to the club. That has always been the same. I don’t know if something changed.”
Conte, who seems certain to be replaced after the final with Chelsea’s search for their 11th permanent manager under owner Roman Abramovich already under way, said: “When you have positive situations, it’s simple. When you have negative, then you must be prepared to work very hard and improve.
“Last season was wonderful. We did fantastic work with the players. But when you win that way, you go at 300kph, or you go at normal velocity and don’t risk burning your engine.
“When you win, you must understand which is the best way to improve. If you are clever, you understand what is wrong.
“You must divide the responsibility, positive or negative, with three parts: club, manager and players. Last season we were heroes.
“This season we are, I don’t know what, but I don’t care. I just want to win today.”
Mourinho said: “Honestly I don’t know what Antonio’s situation is.
“Sometimes I read that it is Antonio’s last match, another one is coming, Luis Enrique is coming, but until it’s official I don’t know.
“If it is his last match or not, I don’t think it will change at all his approach to the game and his desire to make it through and to win.”
Mourinho, who has won the FA Cup once, with Chelsea in 2007 when his side beat Sir Alex Ferguson’s United, has triumphed in 12 out of 15 finals in his career with various clubs.
“The only thing I can say is that I like to play the matches, and that is the way you have to approach finals,” he said.
“You shouldn’t go to finals less than very happy. If you gave me the choice of finishing the match against Watford last week and then going on holiday, or working one more week to play a beautiful final, of course I would rather play a beautiful final.
“You have to be happy, not nervous, not tense.”
ODDS ARE AGAINST CONTE
THE weekend could spell the end of Antonio Conte’s two-year tenure at Chelsea and no doubt the Italian would love to sign off with an FA Cup win. Manchester United stand in his way and the odds suggest Jose Mourinho’s side will come out on top. United are 10-11 to lift the trophy, to Chelsea’s 21-20, and 7-4 to win in normal time. Celtic are firm favourites to win the William Hill Scottish Cup against Motherwell. Brendan Rodgers’ side are 1-6 to triumph and 1-3 to do so in 90 minutes.
BY JOE CRILLY