MOR BELIEF
Legend Tony not ruling out massive upset
IN A season of few cup upsets, Aston Villa can pull off just about the biggest one going at Wembley today.
That’s the message from Villa Park legend Tony Morley ahead of the Midlands club’s Carabao Cup final against Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola’s troops are, of course, clear favourites to lift the trophy for the third time in a row.
And Kevin De Bruyne and his team-mates appear to be hitting top form at the right time, judging by their 2-1 win at Real Madrid in the Champions League last week.
By contrast, Villa are sitting at the wrong end of the Premier League after losing three on the bounce.
But Morley (right) is adamant that should not discount Dean Smith’s strugglers defying the odds this afternoon.
The ex-England winger, who lifted the league title and European Cup with Villa in the early 1980s, said: “It’s a no-lose situation because everybody expects City to turn up and win.
“Even the Villa fans I’ve spoken to are thinking it’s a just a day out for them at Wembley.
“But the Villa players have to make the most of it.
You don’t get to a cup final very often.
They have to enjoy the occasion and believe they can do it.
“To win, they’ll have to be at their best, hope every decision goes their way and they grab a goal through a set-piece. That’s the most likely way they’ll win.
“But it’s not impossible. We’ve seen shocks before in Wembley finals. Wigan beat City in the FA Cup Final a few years ago and Birmingham beat Arsenal in the League Cup Final in 2011. It’s like a heavyweight boxing contest. One knockout blow can be enough, even against the very best.” Morley is not getting carried away. He regards City as one of the best three teams in the world – alongside Liverpool and Bayern Munich.
After last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at Southampton, Smith threatened wholesale changes for the final.
But Morley, 65, whose cross set up Peter Withe’s winner against Bayern Munich in the 1982 European Cup Final, added: “I’m not sure the squad is big enough to do that.
“But Dean will be expecting a lot better this weekend. “For me, Villa staying in the Premier League is far more important than winning the Carabao Cup.
“Even if they don’t win, a decent display against City will be a huge confidence boost for the relegation battle.”