Manchester rivals to meet in Carling Cup semi-finals

• zocoss

  3 Dec 09, 11:42

  MANCHESTER RIVALS TO MEET IN SEMIS

  
  

  .

  .

  Local rivals Manchester City and Manchester United will meet in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup after being drawn together in the last four.

  City, who will host the first leg, earned their place in the draw with an eye-catching 3-0 win over Arsenal at the City of Manchester Stadium on Wednesday night.

  United progressed with a 2-0 win over Tottenham on Tuesday night.

  The first match will be played during the week commencing January 4, with the return clash at Old Trafford taking place two weeks later.

  The other clash will see either Chelsea or Blackburn taking on Aston Villa, who beat Portsmouth 4-2 on Tuesday night.

  City boss Mark Hughes welcomed the double-header in confident fashion. He told Sky Sports 1: "We are just taking in the events of this evening but they're going to be two fantastic games and the whole of Manchester will be tuning in and looking forward to some fantastic games."

  He added: "Over two games we'd fancy our chances against anyone left in the draw, so bring them on.

  "We've frustrated our fans and ourselves in recent weeks but when we play like that we are very strong."

   

• zocoss

  3 Dec 09, 11:43

  The other semi-final match is between Blackburn and Aston Villa...

• sand king

  3 Dec 09, 19:44

  Great! Can't wait for this Derby game! Hungry to see more goals between these 2 teams!

• Ashianamarley

  3 Dec 09, 21:50

  The other clash will see either Blackburn, who beat Chelsea 4-3 on penalties after a 3-3 extra-time stalemate on Wednesday, take on Aston Villa.

• zocoss

  5 Dec 09, 11:57

  `LOYAL` TEVEZ HURT BY ABUSE

  

  
  .

  .
  

  Carlos Tevez feels the treatment he now receives from Manchester United fans is unfair after the loyalty he showed them. 

  The striker spent two years at Old Trafford but switched allegiances over the summer when he spurned the chance to extend his stay with the Red Devils and instead join Manchester City. 

  Although the champions failed to lodge a formal bid for the 25-year-old, Sir Alex Ferguson claimed he asked the Argentine to stay after the Champions League final defeat in Rome but Tevez insists his mind was already made up. 

  The former West Ham favourite enjoyed tremendous success with United, winning two league crowns and the Champions League, but felt unwanted as the club stalled over offering him a permanent deal. 

  Tevez returned to a frosty reception at the Theatre of Dreams earlier in the season as United triumphed 4-3 in the first derby of the campaign. 

  "Obviously I was disappointed because I don't think I deserved to be treated that way. When I was there I was a hard-working and loyal player who gave my all," he said. 

  "After the (Champions League) final, Ferguson tried to get me to sign permanently but I told him I was moving on. 

  "My contract was terminated on the day of the Champions League final, so there was no time for negotiations. And my heart was set on a move elsewhere." 

  The Carling Cup has thrown the two clubs together for a two-legged semi-final tie and Tevez believes the clash should be billed as a classic. 

  "Obviously it's going to be a 'clasico' and I'm very happy to be playing United," he added. 

  "I played there for two years and now I'm going to have to play against many of my friends once again." 

  Despite feeling a sense of injustice at his treatment from United fans since his departure, Tevez reveals that should he score against his former club he will not celebrate. 

  "Obviously I'd be delighted to beat United and reach the final but I still have respect for the club," he said. 

  "I won't celebrate if I score. I don't want to rub their noses in it."

• Chingcalvin

  6 Dec 09, 18:59

  Thanks for the update.. This is really helpful..

• Chingcalvin

  8 Dec 09, 18:05

  Any other updates?

• Ashianamarley

  8 Dec 09, 22:56

  The semis take place over two legs in the weeks commencing 4 and 18 January.

• Shidreth

  12 Dec 09, 07:36

  LOL im very im so very outdated! who won the match between this two? who you bet on?

• omgukilledkenny

  15 Dec 09, 17:08

  This can't beat the other cup draw with Leeds!!!

• Ashianamarley

  16 Dec 09, 06:57

  The other semi-final sees Aston Villa, 4-2 conquerors of Portsmouth, up against Blackburn after Rovers' dramatic shoot-out win over Chelsea.

• iceFatboy

  17 Dec 09, 12:19

  the challenge may be whether SAF sticks with his young guns?