As Southampton FC prepare to take centre stage at Wembley on Sunday, what would be the dream scenario for Saints?
Southampton face Manchester United in the EFL Cup final. The match promises to be a momentous occasion for the club, whether we win or lose.
Our most recent Wembley success was the 2010 Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final, where Southampton beat Carlisle 4-1. However, this is the first time Southampton have been to a domestic cup final since 2003 and our first major final at Wembley since the League Cup final in 1979.
Three years prior to the 1979 Cup final we won our first domestic trophy – the FA Cup, with Lawrie McMenemy’s 1976 side. The game was tight all the way until the 83rd minute, when cult hero Bobby Stokes fired a low driven shot into the bottom right corner from the edge of the box. Southampton lifted the trophy to the delight of the Southampton fans inside Wembley.
Fast forward 41 years, who will be the next Bobby Stokes at Wembley in front of the 31,461 fans on Sunday?
Manchester United are the obvious favourites to win on Sunday, however do they have the determination and the drive to win? The Red Devils have had a lot of Wembley experiences in modern times than us, but I feel this may make the Southampton players more determined then the United players to make this a potential watershed moment.
It is important that Claude Puel tells his players the significance of this match. Not only for the fans, but also the club. We have some really talented players to represent us in the final. The reintroduction of the 4-2-3-1 we saw Puel use at Sunderland was effective. We scored. We defended. We came away as 4-0 victors at the Stadium of Light.
Throughout the knockout rounds we have played a lot different players in the five matches, so Puel might have a tough decision when it comes to picking the side tasked with facing Man United on Sunday.
Whatever the result, the match will be a momentous occasion for the fans, for the club and the players.
Enjoy the match.
We March On!
