Dean Windass believes Hull City can add to the list of FA Cup final upsets at Wembley tomorrow – and possibly leave Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger out of a job.
Tigers old boy Windass insists all the pressure will be on the Gunners as they look to end a nine-year trophy drought, with Wenger still to sign an extension to his contract which runs out this summer.
“I think Arsene Wenger is fully aware all the pressure will be on him because he’s obviously not signed a new contract yet,” said the former Bantams striker.
“This game might determine whether he stays or goes and the players will be aware of that. There’s no pressure on us and the pressure is on them.”
Hull-born Windass made 234 appearances over two spells with his home-city club and famously scored the only goal of the 2008 play-off final against Bristol City to send his team into the Premier League for the first time in their history.
But for Windass, tomorrow’s FA Cup final is made all the more special by memories of the club’s hard times, with his £700,000 sale to Aberdeen in 1995 widely credited with saving the then basement outfit from a winding-up order.
“In the 1990s, when I left the club, they were locking the gates at Boothferry Park,” he recalled.
“They had to sell me to Aberdeen to pay their debts, so it’s a massive transformation. Now we’re talking about playing in Europe and we’re in the Premier League.
“The players have got to go there to enjoy the day and give it their best and hopefully that will be enough.
“We know that Arsenal will have a lot of possession and it’s about how we cope with it when we get the ball.
“Wigan gave Arsenal a bit of scare (in the semi-finals) and hopefully we can do the same. The occasion can get to you, so it’s about not getting wrapped up in the emotions of it all and it comes down to whoever copes with it best.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article