WEMBLEY CAN SAVE SEASON
Saints star Hoedt says Cup win will boost drop fight
WESLEY Hoedt admits a grim fight for survival is not what he signed up for at Southampton. But he believes the FA Cup can help salvage their sorry season. Saints face Chelsea in the semi-finals tomorrow looking to escape their relegation woes for a few hours. Hoedt, 24, who moved to St Mary’s from Lazio last summer, said: “Sometimes life throws things at you and you have to deal with it. “This is a lesson for all of us I think. There are still some games left to fix another run. That is the only thing we can focus on. “I know the FA Cup is a really prestigious tournament for all supporters and I know how it feels to play in a cup final as I did it in Italy. “It is always a great opportunity to win prizes. “It is a different competition and we have done pretty well so far in the FA Cup. It is up to us to do our work.” Saints are stuck in the bottom three after a dismal campaign but Hoedt believes reaching a Wembley final for the second year running can boost their hopes of a miracle relegation escape. The centre-back said: “I think we can stay up. If not, it is not even worth playing any more. We need to keep calm. “Pulling together is the most important thing. Supporters are really important but we have to be aware that we have to give something back. “That is up to us; they do their part and we have to do ours, fight and play good football.” Four time FA Cup winner Mark Hughes has never led a team out at Wembley as a manager. He said: “I got to a number of cup finals as a player and I got to a number of cup finals as a manager. “But I’ve never been able to lead a team out at Wembley. “The competition itself is one that has figured highly in my career. “We have to make the most of this opportunity and it’s not every day you get the chance to get to an FA Cup final. It’s the greatest cup competition in the world in my view.”