Bridge sets sights on FA Cup glory
Saturday, January 17, 2004
Wayne Bridge is hoping to embark on a run which will take him all the way to
the FA Cup final for the second successive year.
Bridge, a member of the Southampton side beaten by Arsenal in last season's
final, wants a happier outcome this time after being recalled to Chelsea's
starting line-up for tomorrow's home clash with Birmingham.
Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri has chosen Celestine Babayaro at left-back
recently but insists that even though the Nigerian is bound for the African
Nations Cup next week, he has chosen Bridge on merit.
'We will start with Wayne Bridge. I prefer Wayne for this match,' said Ranieri.
Bridge hopes that the vote of confidence will be the spur he needs to make the
position his own as Chelsea continue their bid for honours on three fronts, the
Premiership, the FA Cup and the Champions League.
But it is the Cup which is close to his heart after last season's experience
and he is hoping that Chelsea, who hit back from the narrow escape against
First Division strugglers Watford to win Wednesday night's replay 4-0, can
reach the final and emulate Southampton, who overcame Watford in their
semi-final last season.
'Watford put us under a lot of pressure. We had a bit of luck, won 2-1 and
everyone was just so pleased to get into the final. The atmosphere was
unbelievable, everywhere you walked in Southampton, everyone was excited,
wishing us good luck, and there was no pressure on us really,' recalled Bridge.
'What really sticks in my mind is that on the way to the game I was wondering
where all the fans were and then we went around a corner and saw all this
yellow, loads of people singing so loudly.
'Our fans that day were so good compared with Arsenal's fans, who were rubbish.
When we lost, I was more disappointed for the fans than myself really
'Our performance wasn't great, we were under the cosh quite a lot. We did all
right in the first half but in the second half we did a lot of defending.
'Thierry Henry was phenomenal, he stands out all the time and I thought
Chris Baird, who was up against him, did well.
'We could have got a goal in the last few minutes which they cleared off the li
ne and it would have been nice to play extra-time, but it just wasn't to be.'
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