CITY and United wll meet head-on for a place in the Carling Cup final, with Blues manager Mark Hughes roaring “Bring them on!”.
Second-half goals from Carlos Tevez, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Vladimir Weiss against Arsenal booked City’s place in the last four of a domestic cup competition for the first time since 1981 and they will now take on holders United in the last four.
“The whole of Manchester will be tuning in and we’re looking forward to some fantastic games,” Hughes told Sky Sports after the 3-0 win over the Gunners.
“We would have fancied ourselves against anyone in the draw, so bring them on.”
The win halted a run of seven straight league draws, and Hughes added: “We’ve broken that cycle we’d like to think. We have great talent and we have lots of threats in the attacking sense but I was really pleased with our defensive work, we set the tone from first minute to the last.”
Hughes was surprised his Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger disappeared down the tunnel before he could shake hands with him.
“You have to be gracious when you win and gracious in defeat and maybe Arsene wasn’t too gracious but I can understand it, maybe he’s used to winning games and when he does get beat sometimes he doesn’t know how to behave.”
Wenger’s curt response to Hughes’ comment was: “I think I have nothing to say. I am free to shake hands with whom I want.”
City defender Kolo Toure believes the win will kickstart the club’s season.
“Both (Tevez and Wright-Phillips’) goals are fantastic and that gave us the belief to play in our way, and it’s really important to get back to winning after seven draws,” the Ivorian defender said.
“We now have a big game against Chelsea (in the league). We have been really unlucky with late goals but tonight we kept a clean sheet which is really good for our season.”
Wright-Phillips told Sky Sports: “We played very well as a team, we did exactly what the boss wanted us to do and we got the result we needed.
“The boss said we got a trigger from the front two men. They set the standard for us so we just had to carry on doing what they did.”
The former Chelsea winger was hopeful of featuring against his old club at the weekend despite requiring an ice pack on a calf injury.
“I should hope I’ll be fit. (The ice pack) is more of a precaution than anything else.”
The semi-final will be played over two legs. The first leg is to be played on the week commencing January 4, with the second leg to be played on the week commencing January 18. City will host the first leg.
The other semi-final is Blackburn v Aston Villa. Rovers knocked Chelsea out on penalties at Ewood Park.
What do you think? Have your say.
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Stuart Booth (02/12/2009 at 22:30)
mat005, Macclesfield (02/12/2009 at 22:30)
Edski Vega, Nottingham (02/12/2009 at 22:41)
Only an impressive victory against Chelsea can even get anywhere near to starting to prove the doubters wrong..... but that is unlikely, given that our strongest side played tonight and Chelsea were able to rest theirs.....
Portsmouth Blue (02/12/2009 at 22:43)
Ste , Cheshire (02/12/2009 at 22:46)
Norvaner, Vancouver (02/12/2009 at 22:46)
Donachie's mullet, Rochdale (02/12/2009 at 22:46)
silverware to come to gods own
forever blue and still smiling.
Bert Trautmann's FG42 , The Eastern Front of Manchester (02/12/2009 at 22:47)
The Devil's Advocate, M11 born and bred, East Stand Lower 104 (02/12/2009 at 22:48)
There you go foamers, it is apparent that the team has not been playing how MH wanted, and when they do they win. Fantastic result - the fact that it was their second string doesn't make any difference, because we put more goals past their first team. So we've beaten both their teams so far this season.
Rick Jenks, Bury (02/12/2009 at 22:51)
An awesome night starting with The Bluemoon, Tempo, atmosphere and Noise from the loyal fans of Manchester City FC the Greatest Club in The World.
Whingers, Pundits, Muck Stirrers from the media and Man United and Arsenal now you have witnessed what a great club we are and debt free!
Edski Vega, Nottingham (02/12/2009 at 22:52)
Only an impressive victory against Chelsea can even get anywhere near to starting to prove the doubters wrong..... but that is unlikely, given that our strongest side played tonight and Chelsea were able to rest theirs.....
Rick Jenks, Bury (02/12/2009 at 22:53)
Dromina 1 (02/12/2009 at 22:58)
Are the roads around WEMBLEY still cobbled ?
Rick Jenks, Bury (02/12/2009 at 23:02)
From a management perspective. I also believe that tactics have not been spot on. But the fact is Mark knows better than me having played the game at all levels and enjoyed success as a manager at Premier and International level with Wales and being close to his players. It goes without saying that we are in the best position we have been in for years with as solid infrastructure to achieve top 4 in tghe Premier and progress into Europe. Despite the recent disappointment in not winning games we should have won. One defeat in all competitions is a massive plus and remember the team beat Barcelona on their own ground which was a significants achievement and proof that the talent is in place and capable of competing at the highest level.
Further evidence of this is the high number of International players in the Squad and also a fair number of our Junior players who are representing their countries never befored in the History of Manchester City have we been so rich in talent and World Class! This is something the influences outside of the club need to recognise. I believe, employess within Manchester United and Arsenal are the biggest culprits who have done nothing but Knock City even before the current season started it is a fact that they can not stomach the FACT that City owe nothing and have a wealth of talent both on and off the field who are going to propel the club forward.
It was stated many months ago by Manchester City very clearly and reiterated several times that the Project would take 3 years not 18 months to bring to fruition. Rome was not built in a day and neither will Manchester City in their rebuild. Ther outsiders shoulld pay more attention to their businesses as I understand for instance that Manchester United have a massive debt of £800m and growing everyday. I also recall both Manchester United and Arsenal investing significant cash in assembling their playing squads and I would suggest they have spent more than City and also have made some bad choices that have proved expensive. Apart fom these 2 clubs. The media need to check their facts before issuing some contentious editorial reports and comments. I also include the pundits many of whom appear on TV but have never managed a team in their life and get by each day on their past playing days and being part of the "Old Pals network (as the scousers would say Givez a Job Sky and BBC) If they were that good and clever they would not be sat in a studio but out their coaching and managing. But no they want the easy life.
Well Arsenal return tonight and Chelsea on Saturday but if results do not go as planned for City Mark H will still be in charge as he is the boss and not going to be removed by Sheikh Mansour that's a fact!
CTID and City are we!
I will also single out the irritating Green who has never even played the game but knows more than our Professional Managers and Players. I will desist from using stronger language to desribe the man.
Rick Jenks, Bury
2/12/2009 at 17:17
KazHoshay, New York City (02/12/2009 at 23:04)
palomablanca, manchester (02/12/2009 at 23:06)
BristolStevefromOldham, bristol (02/12/2009 at 23:08)
daz smith, moston (02/12/2009 at 23:12)
StretfordBLUE in America, Born a BLUE and Forever (02/12/2009 at 23:12)
Chapman (02/12/2009 at 23:14)
Peter Doherty. As good as it gets. (Was it really 37 years?) , Levenshulme (02/12/2009 at 23:21)
bluelight, Levenshulme (02/12/2009 at 23:21)
scum hunter, blackley (02/12/2009 at 23:21)
karen tyler (02/12/2009 at 23:21)
Hughes you are a gentleman unlike Wenger and his club. Also i will never forget the look on his face at OT when they played overtime and Ferguson was laughing with the official, yet he still shook hands with Ferguson - he shows respect, calmness under interview and is under a huge media spotlight - credit where credit's due..
Redberry, Manchester (02/12/2009 at 23:46)