FA CUP FOURTH ROUND Owls eye
LET’S PARTY LIKE WE DID IN 66 AGAINST CHELSEA & IN 91 WHEN WE BEAT UNITED
CHRIS TURNER has seen Sheffield Wednesday beat the odds against Chelsea before.
From watching a famous FA Cup semi-final win when he was a kid, to winning a League Cup semi- final as the Owls’ goalkeeper.
But he still reckons his hometown club need divine intervention at Stamford Bridge this evening.
And that incoming boss Steve Bruce will need an even bigger miracle to turn the South Yorkshire sleeping giants into a Premier League club when he finally takes charge.
Former Owls, Sunderland and Manchester United keeper Turner, 60, became Wednesday manager in 2002.
Blood
when I was only seven. My mum and dad took me and we beat Chelsea at Villa Park to reach the final against Everton, which we lost.
Memory
“Then I was in goal for Wednesday when we beat Chelsea in both League Cup semi-final legs in 1991 when we were second division and they were in the first.
“After that we went on to beat Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United 1-0 in the final which is still my greatest memory at Wednesday.”
Chelsea and Wednesday are arguably even further apart these days, and although a giantkilling would help the Owls’ finances, getting back to the Premier League is the aim under Bruce.
Turner believes Thai owner Dejphon Chansiri has hired the right man this time – though he reckons Bruce will have his work cut out. Fair Play sanctions, after already having been banned from making any signings last summer for breaching rules.
And that means Bruce – currently on a family holiday, where he has been watching England’s cricket stars – will be walking into one of his toughest ever challenges next month.
Turner said: “Brucie will need all his skills as a manager who has won four promotions from the Championship to get OLIVIER GIROUD is relishing the battle to be Chelsea’s central striker with new boy Gonzalo Higuain.
The Argentine hitman arrived on loan at Stamford Bridge from Juventus on Wednesday.
He joined the Blues too late to be included in Maurizio
Sarri’s squad for their Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg against Tottenham.
But he is likely to get the nod for tonight’s FA Cup clash with Sheffield Wednesday as Sarri them t h h heading di i in the h right ih direction. d
“Under the previous gaffer Jos Luhukay i t was an underachieving club that was definitely heading towards relegation.
“It’ll take a miracle to get Wednesday back in the Premier League from where they are now. But for the first time in a long time at this club, the incoming manager fits the bill.
JPedigree
“Steve has the pedigree to build teams for promotion. And it’s vital to have a manager like him in charge.
“You hear negativity about Steve’s time at Villa – but he’d have been a legend if Villa had won last season’s play-off final against Fulham.
“Villa had money troubles but Wednesday’s are bigger and his biggest problem could be another transfer embargo after the one which stopped signings last l summer.”
Turner recalled: “When I was the Wednesday manager in 2002 the wage bill was £8.2million.
“I was told to cut it back to t £2.5m for the next season which w I did.
“Now the wage bill is £ 39m and Brucie will be managing with both hands tied if they can’t buy any p players to keep the team competitive.” looks to get him up to speed as quickly as possible.
Giroud, who started up front in the victory over Spurs, said: “Gonzalo’s arrival will help me to step up again and keep me fighting to be competitive by working hard in training.
“And it’s going to be a benefit for the team. I hope he will help us to win trophies.”
Frenchman Giroud is out of contract in the summer, but is keen to stay at Chelsea whatever happens with Higuain during the next five months.
He added: “The club have the
option of one more year after this season and we are going to make sure that we sort it out.”
Sarri hopes Higuain’s arrival will not only sort out Chelsea’s goal struggles, but give the squad a lift in mentality.
Attitude
The Italian blasted his men last week, claiming it was difficult to motivate them.
And it wasn’t the first time this season he has had a pop over their attitude.
Eden Hazard was also in the firing line, with Sarri saying he