Vidic wary of City desperation
After Alex Ferguson highlighted Chelsea’s obsession with the Champions League, Nemanja Vidic knows anything will do for Manchester City.
It is 35 years since the Blues last won a trophy and rarely have they got closer during that time than they are at the moment.
Yet the formidable obstacle of Vidic’s Manchester United stand in their way when City bid to reach the FA Cup final on Saturday.
“Manchester City have an obsession about winning a trophy,” said the Serbian.
“After the big money they have spent, they want to win their first trophy.
“In the last few years we have had a lot of success. We have always been in quarter-finals, semi-finals, two Champions League finals.
“We are playing at the top level. Every team wants to do their best against us. But we will be ready.”
And in Vidic’s case that means being ready to face anyone.
Until Monday night, it seemed the United skipper would be attempting to subdue former team-mate Carlos Tevez.
However, the Argentinean’s hamstring injury will almost certainly rule him out, which brings an element of doubt to United’s planning.
Obvious replacements Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli have different qualities.
They also lack experience in such occasions, or the proof they can handle the intense pressure a meeting with their neighbours on such a stage is bound to exert.
Not that Vidic is anticipating an easier time.
“It is not an advantage for us that City are unlikely to have Tevez fit,” said the 29-year-old.
“They will still have quality players up front and we never underestimate any players we play against.
“Dzeko and Tevez are not the same player. Obviously Dzeko is a goalscorer who looks to play in the box and get on the end of crosses. He is a target man whereas Tevez likes to play on the ball and comes deep.”
Dzeko is yet to get a Premier League goal for City, something Balotelli has managed.
Yet, given Tevez’s likely absence and the respective midweek performances of the two teams, United are favoured to reach their 11th final since City last appeared in one.
Not that Vidic is showing any outward sign of superiority, even though United are also top of the Premier League and have a Champions League semi-final against Schalke to look forward to.
“We don’t want to be arrogant or think we are the specials,” he said.
“We are just trying to do our best.
“Manchester City will be a very difficult game but a few players haven’t won the FA Cup, myself included, and we are hungry to achieve it.”
