DREAMLAND
Lincoln cheer as they bag Arsenal Mourinho’s going back to Chelsea
By TOM FARMERY and JACK GAUGHAN
THE FA Cup dream goes on for non-League Lincoln City, who have been given the tantalising prospect of a trip to Arsenal in the quarter-finals.
Management team Danny and Nicky Cowley, their families and dozens of fans were at Sincil Bank to watch the draw, which also paired Chelsea and Manchester United in a return to Stamford Bridge for ex-Blues boss Jose Mourinho.
But at Lincoln the chant was ‘ We’re coming for you, Arsene Wenger, we’re coming for you,’ after their heroes were rewarded for beating Premier League Burnley with a trip to the winners of Sutton v Arsenal tonight.
The supporters might want Premier League opposition but their manager will be rooting for his National League rivals even if he admits it would be a ‘dream’ to play Arsene Wenger’s side.
‘I genuinely hope Sutton United can do
it as that would be great for non-League,’ said Cowley. ‘I’ve been in non-League football all of my life and it would be great for the game. Not sure I’d rather play Sutton as there would be more pressure on us if they did win.
‘To come up against Arsene Wenger would be a dream. I am in this game to test myself and there aren’t many tougher tests than going to the Emirates.
‘He’s having a tough period at the moment but he’s an experienced manager and no doubt he’ll navigate his way through it. He’s been a pioneer for English football.’
A mouth-watering last- eight draw also saw Millwall given a trip to Tottenham as the prize for knocking out Leicester, and the final tie sees Middlesbrough pitted against either Huddersfield Town or Manchester City.
While Lincoln continued to live in dreamland, United boss Mourinho was trying to dampen down the prospect of a reunion with his old team. His last visit ended in his worst League defeat, a 4-0 capitulation.
‘The match is in one month’s time. I don’t want to be speaking about it,’ he said. ‘Chelsea can only think about that because I think they are champions and they have nothing else to fight for.
‘The FA Cup is something that is important for them. I have no reaction. I have to play SaintEtienne, I have to play the EFL Cup final, I have to play hopefully another opponent in the Europa League.
‘I have to fight for a top-four position in the Premier League. I have so many things to think about. We are going to fight for that but the League Cup is the one we have 50 per cent possibility to win.’
Mourinho insists that United can still win three trophies this season, even if fixtures are starting to pile up. They should sail through to the Europa League last 16 and face Southampton in the EFL Cup decider on Sunday at Wembley.
Lincoln are also in two Cup competitions, the FA Trophy and the FA Cup. One of Cowley’s regrets on Saturday was that only 3,200 away fans could make the trip to Turf Moor but that will not be an issue at the Emirates — if Arsenal beat Sutton.
Milwall boss Neil Harris was delighted to be taking his side to Tottenham, saying: ‘It’s a cracking draw for everyone associated with this club.
‘The players have had the opportunity to test themselves against some of the best Premier League teams in the previous three rounds but in many ways this is another level altogether.
‘Spurs are a fantastic side and this gives my players a chance to see how they can compete with some truly outstanding footballers. White Hart Lane is a fantastic stadium, a great place to play football and it’s a tie we’re very much looking forward to.’
Tottenham striker Harry Kane — who took the match ball home yesterday after scoring a hat-trick to sink Fulham at Craven Cottage — had a loan spell at Millwall in 2012 and scored seven goals in 22 games.
But there could be complications over the staging of quarter-finals in the capital given that March 10-13, when the ties are scheduled, follows midweek Europa League games.
Manchester United and Tottenham could both be appearing in the Europa League last 16 on Thursday, March 9. They could not then play until Sunday, March 12, but the Metropolitan Police may be uncomfortable about staging Chelsea v Manchester United and Tottenham v Millwall on the same day.
England also play against Scotland at Twickenham in the Six Nations on Saturday 11.