WAGNER’S THE OUTSIDER
® HUDDERSFIELD boss David Wagner says he will feel like a kid locked out of a sweet shop when he watches tonight’s FA Cup tie at Manchester City from the stands.
The Terriers head coach got a two-match touchline ban and was fined £6,000 on Monday after a bust-up last month with Leeds boss Garry Monk, who landed a one-match touchline ban and £3,000 fine.
Assistant boss Christoph Buhler and first-team coach Andy Hughes will do Wagner’s work on the touchline as the Championship promotion chasers aim for an upset.
Wagner will be able to keep in touch with the bench, but said: “It looks like a sweet shop that is closed and I have to stay at the window and watch from the outside.” Wagner broke FA rules by going on to the pitch to celebrate after Michael Hefele’s late goal gave Huddersfield a 2-1 Championship win over their West Yorkshire rivals on February 5.
Wagner believes he was harshly treated by the FA.
“There are so many things in this world that I don’t agree with and don’t understand,” he said.
“I’m happy that I’m still able to be here and that they haven’t sent me out of the country. I have to accept it and go forward.
“I think, on the other side, we should not make it bigger than it is. I’m able to be with the group before the game and at half-time. Some managers, like Steve McClaren, do it every game, watching a big part from the stand. It’s a new experience for me. I have no idea how it feels. If I could decide it, I would be where I usually am.
“But the best thing to do is to handle it, go forward and don’t think about it any longer.”
Huddersfield are third in the Championship and Wagner is set to make changes to keep players fresh for Saturday’s home game against Newcastle.
But he insists he is taking the FA Cup seriously, saying: “We will have a different starting 11 to the one we had against Barnsley.
“But I only want to be successful in the next game. For this, I will try.
“Then we think about Newcastle.”