Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
NIGEL HOPING FOR A BIT OF THE CLOUGH FAMILY MAGIC AGAINST CITY
‘Dad would win the Cup and bring it home to put on the table with our fish and chips’
NIGEL CLOUGH once won a coin toss to decide kit colours for the League Cup final and is praying for more luck tonight.
The Burton boss takes his League One underdogs to Manchester City desperate to continue their incredible run. The Brewers have already beaten four higher-ranked teams on the way to the last four – Aston Villa, Burnley, Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough.
But against Pep Guardiola’s Premier League champions, Clough knows he is facing the ultimate test.
Despite the huge gap between the clubs, Clough – who spent almost three years at City as a player – goes into the first leg buoyed by a family history of success in the competition.
He won the League Cup twice in the Nottingham Forest team managed by his legendary dad Brian (left) – who lifted it four times in total – against Luton in 1989 (below) and Oldham in 1990.
It was for the 1978 final against Liverpool that, as a young boy, he was involved in a flip of the coin over which of the teams would wear their traditional red kit at Wembley.
“We beat Leeds in the semi-final,” said Clough. “Bob Paisley came in the dressing-room afterwards and we had to toss up for who was going to wear red in the final.
“Ken Smales, the secretary at Forest gave me the coin. Bob called it wrong and we wore red in the final then won it in the replay wearing yellow. I wish I could toss a coin to decide it against City.”
There was also the night the Clough family sat at home eating a fish and chip supper with the trophy on the dining room table.
He recalls: “I think it was the first time after we beat Liverpool
in the final replay at Old Trafford. Fish and chips at home with the cup on the table. I think dad said he was taking it home for security reasons to look after it.
“I think he just pinched it for that reason. It had to go somewhere on the night so he would commandeer it for the evening and take it back the next morning.”
Ederson is likely to be in goal for City tonight and Clough is a massive fan of the Brazilian – as it proves his father was right to pay big money for a keeper in 1977.
Clough saw City’s Premier League clash with Liverpool last week where, with Alisson in goal for the Reds, the two keepers on show cost £102million between them.
Clough Senior had his sanity seriously questioned when he forked out £270,000 to lure Peter Shilton from Stoke to Forest in 1977.
It turned out to be an inspired decision, with Shilton (below, with Clough) helping Forest to the league title and European Cup glory and Clough was considered a trailblazer.
And 40 years later, English clubs have gone keeper crazy again. Gianluigi Buffon’s world record £33m switch from
Parma to Juventus had stood for 16 years until eclipsed by the £35m City paid Benfica for Ederson in June 2017.
Twelve months after that, Liverpool stumped up £67m to sign Alisson from Roma and within 20 days the record was shattered again when Chelsea set a new benchmark of £72m for Athletic Bilbao’s Spain international Kepa. “I don’t think even 10 years ago they paid massive fees for keepers,” said Brewers boss Clough.
“It’s only recently, because goalkeepers have made highprofile mistakes in major competitions and it’s come back into the spotlight how important they are. All the top clubs now recognise they need a top goalkeeper.”
“My dad and Peter Taylor were convinced Shilton was that good and it would make the difference. He would win them an extra 10 points.
“The confidence he gives everyone else. The opposition know as well that if they get through, they’re up against the best goalkeeper in the world.”