With an outstanding record in cup football in his native Italy, the City manager knows what it takes to get to a final and to win, having won the Coppa Italia 10 times as a player and as a coach.
Last week’s win for the Blues is sure to mean an onslaught tonight, but Mancini thinks that staying calm will be the key to success.
“We must stay calm,” he asserted. “It’s vital that we only think about the game. We have to think about our tactics, know what we are doing at corners and keep our concentration. You play better when you are calm.
I want us to start the game by playing high up the pitch and don’t hold back like we did at home. We have to play to win from the first minute.
...Roberto Mancini...
Mancini is well aware of City’s desire to win a trophy for the first time since the League Cup triumph in 1976, and he says the mood around the squad is one of excitement.
He adds, “The players are excited because they have a big chance to change the history of the club, but I don’t think they are under extra pressure because of it.
“It’s been so many years since we won a trophy, we want to get to the final and we have a good chance to do so.”
Don’t forget that there will be all the usual comprehensive coverage from tonight’s game right here on the mcfc.co.uk Match Day Centre. We’ll be chatting about the game from an hour before kick off, and there’s a link to Key 103’s radio commentary, as well as live stats and photos.
