DAD WOULD HAVE LOVED SILVA
CARABAO CUP SEMI FINAL: MAN CITY v BURTON Nigel Clough on what Old Big Ed’ might have made of Pep and City ‘I’d stick Ederson in midfield’
Neil Moxley
NIGEL CLOUGH says David Silva is the one Manchester City player his late father would have drooled over – although Pep Guardiola’s style of football would have been
‘too pure’ for his liking.
Burton Albion’s boss set the scene for Wednesday night’s
David v Golaith clash in the
Carabao Cup by paying tribute to his opponents’ quality.
And his late father, managerial great Brian, he says would have been a confirmed fan of the style shown by the reigning champs coached by Guardiola
(inset, right).
It was Clough Snr (inset, top) who said that ‘if football was meant to be played in the air, God would have put grass in the sky.’
And his son admitted that ‘Old Big ‘Ed’, as he was affectionately known, would have loved to have seen Manchester City in full flow.
“He would have been a fan of the way they play, yes,” said the Brewers’ chief, “it might even have been too pure for him at times.
“I’m talking about the way the centrehalves take the ball and the keeper. Nottingham Forest were renowned as one of the best footballing sides of their time, both in this country and in Europe.
“But I never saw Peter Shilton throw the ball out more than three times per game. He kicked it way more than he threw it. “It went up to Garry Birtles – and we would play from there.
“I’m not sure Kenny Burns and Larry Lloyd would have been doing what Manchester City do now. “Obviously, the game has moved on. He would have loved t heir attacking movement and if you are talking about players, then David Silva would have been one that my dad would have loved to have played for him.
“Silva is someone who just wants the ball all of the time. He loved players like that.”
Clough said that the other three teams in the semifinal draw would have been praying to meet Burton and
would be viewing progress as ‘almost a bye’ into the final.
The Staffordshire side, who were only promoted from non-league ten years ago, are 100-1 with the bookmakers to win the competition – and 33-1 to taste success in the first leg.
He said: “We’re not going to go into the details of Manchester City with our lads – it would frighten them to death.
“It’s a pretty frightening prospect. They’ve got players like Riyad Mahrez sat on the bench against Liverpool. He’s destroying Premier League teams.
“But it will be good for our lads to see first-hand what these top players are like. How quick, strong and agile they
are. “And it’s going to be hard. It’s not a one-off. It’s over two legs. In 90 minutes, anything can happen. Over 180, it’s a hard to see even an outside chance of a miracle. The gulf is massive. “But it will be fabulous for our supporters.
“Some of them have been coming to the club for 50 or 60 years and to go up there in the semi-final of a major competition is more than they ever thought they would see.”
Neil Moxley
NIGEL CLOUGH claims Manchester City keeper Ederson is good enough to play in midfield for Burton.
The Brewers boss inisists the Portuguese shot-stopper has reached such a high level with his passing that he could get a game in League One in the heart of his engine-room.
Burton face the daunting prospect next week of trying to stop Pep Guardiola’s side from reaching the final of the Carabao Cup.
And Clough put the tie into context by claiming that Ederson can do things with the ball that his own outfield players would struggle to match.
He said: “Their keeper is so good with his feet, he could play centre midfield for us. I’m being serious – he’s that good with his feet.
Incredible
“He could play in our engine-room. I’ve seen him pass balls that none of our players can play.
“It’s incredible. He smashed one the other night. They were being pressed by Liverpool and he hit a pass to Leroy Sane, it was about 70 yards. Sane never moved.
“We haven’t got anyone on our books who can do that. He’s that good.”
Clough admits the Manchester City he left behind as a player bore no resemblance to the one since the takeover by Sheikh Mansour & Co.
He added: “I’ve never been to the Etihad. And I’m pretty sure they don’t still train at Platt Lane on Moss Side.
“It was open to the public but there wasn’t many who turned up for training but occasionally they would come and watch.
“They are genuine supporters. When you look at when they went down to League One, you’ve got a chance of coming back if the fans stay with you.
“Sunderland will come back like Manchester City. As long as the fans stood by the team, you’ve got a chance.”
We’re not going into the details of Manchester City with our lads - it would frighten them to death!