City not seeking salvation: Kompany
Luiz calls for Aguero to own up over tackle
LONDON, April 15, (AFP): Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has rejected suggestions that his side’s entire season hangs on whether or not they can overcome Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup final.
City defeated Chelsea 2-1 in the semifinals on Sunday to reach their second final in three years, two years on from the 2011 success against Stoke City that ended the club’s 35year trophy drought.
City failed to make it beyond Christmas in both the Champions League and the League Cup, and with Manchester United surging to victory in the Premier League, it leaves the FA Cup as their only chance of silverware.
However, with his side also in a comfortable position in second place in the league, Kompany sees no reason to be downcast about their performances this season.
“It is not a question of salvaging the season. You never know how good your season will be until after the last game,” he said.
“It is important for our fans that we bring trophies back to Manchester. If we achieve that this season, it is important we cherish it and be happy about it.
“You can always improve and we have another season to do that, so you shouldn’t look backwards too much.”
Goals either side of half-time from Samir Nasri and Sergio Aguero appeared to have set City on course for a comfortable victory at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, only for Demba Ba’s 66th-minute goal to leave them hanging on.
In a tense denouement, Aguero was fortunate to escape punishment for an appalling twofooted stamp on Chelsea centre-back David Luiz, but City manager Roberto Mancini played down the incident. “I didn’t see it. I need glasses,” he joked. “Usually Sergio takes a lot of kicks from defenders. I don’t know what he did. This can happen in football.
“The referee was there. There were six referees on the pitch — I think if Sergio does something wrong... (he would have been punished).”
Mancini was rewarded for keeping faith with goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon, who has deputised for first-choice goalkeeper Joe Hart in the competition.
The Romanian produced several important saves, notably thwarting Juan Mata and Ba in quick succession at 2-1, and Mancini suggested that he would keep his place for the final on May 11. “Costel did very well,” Mancini said. “He is a good keeper and he deserves this situation because he has been here for two years and has done very well behind Joe Hart.
“It is a good situation for Joe too. We have four weeks to the final, but I think it will be Pantilimon.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea defender David Luiz has called on Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero to apologise for his horror tackle on the Brazilian during the FA Cup semifinal.
Aguero escaped without punishment from referee Chris Foy after the Argentine striker threw himself into a ferocious two-footed lunge on Luiz late in the second half at Wembley on Sunday.
Luiz was lying prone on the turf after tangling with Aguero moments earlier and the centre-back appeared to take the full force of the challenge.
Somehow Foy and his assistants missed the foul but fortunately Luiz was able to finish the match, although City’s 2-1 win added insult to the injury which left him with stud marks on his body.
Luiz was keen to point out that he didn’t think Aguero was a malicious player who had meant to harm the centre-back.
However, he believes Aguero should apologise to set a good example to fans across the world.
“I forgive everybody in my life but Aguero is a great player and he needs to honest with himself and say I don’t like to do bad tackles,” Luiz said.
“If it was the opposite and I did the tackle, I would say ‘sorry this is not me, this is not good for football’. Kids watch the game and need to see good things.
“We need to show football is beautiful. In games like this both teams want to win. Sometimes people can be angry and do things they don’t want to do.
“I think it was that because I never saw Aguero doing bad tackles on other players.
“I didn’t speak to him after the game. I have a good heart. I don’t like to beat on people and talk in a bad way. I just like to play football.”
Aguero’s tackle, and the controversy over Foy’s failure to award Chelsea a late penalty for Vincent Kompany’s tug on Fernando Torres, left Luiz and his team-mates with a bitter taste as they headed home from Wembley.
But the Brazilian conceded Chelsea had only themselves to blame for a slow start that left them two goals down by the 66th minute.
“They were better in the first half,” Luiz said. “After half-time we woke up and created a lot of opportunities. We just couldn’t get the result.
“We didn’t want to start slow. We couldn’t score when we didn’t have the ball and we spoke about that at half-time.”
Sunday’s defeat leaves Chelsea with the Europa League as their only remaining chance of silverware — they face Basel in the first leg of the semifinals later this month.
Luiz believes winning that competition and qualifying for the Champions League via a topfour finish in the Premier League would still constitute a successful season.
“We can still stay in the top four positions and win another European title, so we work for that,” he said.
“If you win the Europa League and qualify for the Champions League of course the season is a success.
“Some big teams in Europe won’t win titles this year for sure.”
Rafael Benitez’s side are back in action at Fulham on Wednesday and with a busy schedule until the end of the season, the Spaniard has to decide how often he is willing to play John Terry and Frank Lampard.
The two aging Chelsea stars had played in virtually every one of their club’s major Cup occasions over the last decade.
But both were unused substitutes on Sunday, prompting Benitez to defend his selection.
“What I’m trying to say is that to play two games a week is not easy for some players in some positions, not just John,” Benitez said.
“Sometimes you see the players are tired, so you have to rotate, but we had the intensity we needed, so I think we’re OK.
“Now we have to concentrate on the league. Fulham will be a massive game. We’ll try to keep the players thinking positive.”
Everton’s European ambitions have taken root with four wins and a draw from their last five games, with coach David Moyes praising his team’s professionalism in their 2-0 win against relegation candidates Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.
“It was a very important win and a very disciplined and professional performance. Now, if we can go and win at Arsenal, you might say that we’ve got a chance of being involved in the Champions League.
“If we don’t, you’ll probably say we’ve got a chance of making the Europa League. No matter what happens there, the players have given themselves a great chance.”
He added: “There’s six games left to go. We’ve been doing it for most of the season. Why would it change in the last few games?”
What Everton need to change is their record against Arsenal. They have lost eight of their last 11 league matches and not beaten them for six years.
Manchester United, who brushed aside a toothless Stoke City 2-0 on Sunday, can take another step towards their 20th title if they win at mid-table West Ham who drew 1-1 with Southampton on Saturday.
A last-minute goal from Robin van Persie gave United a 2-2 draw at Upton Park on their last visit there for an FA Cup third-round tie in January.
They have a good record at the ground, winning their last three league matches there and outscoring the Hammers 9-2.
In a dress-rehearsal of the FA Cup final on May 11, Manchester City meet Wigan at home with the game of far greater significance to their opponents.
Wigan are 18th and in the relegation zone, but have two matches in hand on the teams above them.
Chelsea, who relinquished their hold on the FA Cup on Sunday when they lost 2-1 in their semi-final against Manchester City, will be playing their seventh match in 19 days, when they make the short trip to Fulham.
Fulham’s Craven Cottage ground is just two miles from Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea usually do well at Fulham having lost there only once in the Premier League, and interim coach Rafa Benitez will be desperate for all three points to keep their momentum going in the race for Champions League qualification.