I don't want Gunners, admits Strachan
Gordon Strachan plumped for honesty ahead of glamour when he admitted he would rather face Sheffield United or Watford in the FA Cup semi-finals than the winners of the replay between Arsenal and Chelsea.
The Southampton manager saw his team move to within 90 minutes of an FA Cup final appearance with yesterday’s 2-0 win over Wolves – and then announced he would prefer to meet more First Division opposition to boost his team’s chances of making it to Cardiff.
“If we’re all honest then of course we’d rather avoid Arsenal and Chelsea,” said Strachan, who knew he would not be left wondering for long before today’s early-afternoon draw for the last four.
“I could give you all sorts of garbage by saying ‘We have to play them some time, and it’s a great challenge for the boys’ – but if you’re honest you’d rather not play them.
“If you asked Ray Lewington and Neil Warnock [managers of Watford and Sheffield United] if they’d rather play Arsenal, Chelsea or Southampton they’d both say Southampton – no doubt about it.
