Maloney hopes for double over United as player and boss
SHAUN Maloney scored the winning goal in Wigan Athletic’s only victory against United and he’s now hoping to oversee another upset but this time as manager at the club.
Maloney made over 90 appearances as a player for Wigan and he scored a goal against David de Gea at the DW Stadium in April 2012 to record his side’s only ever win in a total of 19 meetings against United.
That shock 1-0 result in the 2011/12 season reduced United’s lead at the top of the table to five points as Manchester City closed the gap and Roberto Mancini’s side subsequently won the title.
Wigan survived relegation that year, but they have suffered in the decade since and currently find themselves in League One.
However, since relegation from the Premier League, Wigan have won more FA Cup ties against top-flight opponents (six) than any other side outside the division, which gives hope of another upset.
Wigan manager Maloney spoke ahead of the game against United and he was asked about his goal in 2012: “That was also a big moment for our club at that time, we needed the win ourselves. The brilliant thing about the environment and the style of play Roberto [Martinez] created, was the feeling we could match and beat anybody at our best.
“That first half against Manchester United was probably, in my opinion, the best performance I’ve felt part of within a team, playing against one of the elite. Roberto created that feeling, and when we got it right, we felt we could beat any team. Particularly on that night, we produced an incredible performance that will live long in the memory. I’m really, really happy with the draw.
“As soon as we saw Manchester United come out, everyone at the club was delighted. It brings back so
many happy memories of when we were in the Premier League, and we got to play these teams on a regular basis.
“And it’s amazing for the players, who have worked very hard to get where they have. York was a very difficult game, the conditions were hard, Exeter away prior to that was the same, and they deserve the chance to play against one of the most historic clubs in the world.”
Maloney also discussed his affection for United: “I grew up a Celtic fan, and I’ll always be that, but at the same time, because of where I’m from, Aberdeen, with Sir Alex Ferguson going down to Manchester United... you always had a second team as a kid, and they were mine. It’s a club I travelled down as a kid to watch, at the start of the 1990s, at a time where they were just beginning to become incredibly successful again. So this game will be a great test, but also a great privilege to be a manager against a club that means so much to me.”