I DON’T WANT TO BE PEP’S MATE

Cook won’t be drinking buddy

WIGAN boss Paul Cook claims he isn’t interested in trying to be “Pep’s best mate”.

Some opposition managers have fawned over Pep Guardiola this season because they are so starstruck by the legendary Manchester City boss.

While straight-talking Cook respects the ex-Barcelona manager he claims Wigan will be professional and focus on trying to upset City again tonight in a repeat of the 2013 FA Cup Final.

Cook said: “We’re not here to be Pep’s best mate. We’re here to have a game.

“We have the utmost respect for every boss. City bring something different to the town of course.

“You have got the best team in the world possibly and maybe the best manager in the world but we will be competitive in the game.

“We’re not here to make best friends with Man City and everyone pat us on the back after they’ve beaten us by five and say have a good season. We want to try to win.”

Cook bought a £12 bottle of wine to share with David Moyes when Wigan beat West Ham in the last round and says Guardiola will have to make do with whatever is in his drinks cabinet.

He added: “Pep will get invited in with his staff before the game. He can have a can of Skol! Our drinks cabinet won’t change for anybody.

“I think we got Moyes a £12 bottle of wine from Tesco. We’ll show Pep the utmost respect and I’m sure by the time he leaves he’ll have had a good experience of Wigan.”

Cook, 50, was part of Wigan’s run to the quarter-finals in 1987 – their best showing in the Cup before famously lifting it in five years ago.

He also has history when it comes to upsetting City and scored a screamer in Stockport’s memorable 3-1 win over the Blues in Division One in 1997.

Cook said: “That City team was Georgi Kinkladze, lads like that. It was a cracker – bounced, volley, 25-yard screamer. I hope you find the footage!

“It just shows you where City have gone in 20 years. That was probably one of their lowest moments as a club.

“We’re really looking forward to the game. We’re not going to set up with that hard-to-beat mentality.

“If we sit off them too much they’ll just get more confident in the game. We’ve got to disrupt them and be brave.”