Uwe Rosler has dedicated Wigan Athletic’s victory over Manchester City to injured midfielder Ben Watson.
Watson’s 90th-minute winner in last season’s FA Cup Final downed Manchester City in the most dramatic style and brought Latics the only major trophy of their 82-year history.
Without Watson, who had been ruled out of a dream rematch with the Blues by a broken leg, goals from Jordi Gomez and James Perch saw the holders upset the odds all over again.
Man City 1-2 Wigan Ath
The FA Cup with Budweiser
Sixth Round proper
Sunday 9 March 2014
Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Winners receive £360,000 from FA Prize Fund
And Rosler claimed that his side were motivated by the thought of winning on the player's behalf.
“I am very happy for my players, my staff and for Ben Watson,” he said. “Ben was a big incentive today for us to really do well for him, but also first and foremost this is for our supporters.
“Last season was an unbelievable achievement to win The FA Cup and put Wigan Athletic worldwide on the football map, but to follow that up this year by being in the Semi-Final is equally strong.
“We never thought we could achieve that again but to be in the Semi-Finals, the players deserve all the credit. To have the chance to play against Arsenal at Wembley, of course we take that.”
The former Brentford boss also hopes the result can galvanise his side’s Championship form as they go in search of an automatic return to the Premier League.
How much this may damage City’s chances of adding silverware to last weekend’s Capital One Cup Trophy remains to be seen and Rosler admits he had to put emotion aside as he returned to his former club.
Still lauded as one of Maine Road’s favourite sons, the German was grateful for the raucous reception he received from the Etihad faithful.
But he highlighted how proud he is to have been given the opportunity to manage Wigan.
James Perch celebrates his winning goal for Wigan
“This club [Manchester City] has been very respectful to me,” he said. “The reception I got was tremendous. Everyone knows the bonds and ties I have to this club and that will never change.
“But Wigan have given me the opportunity to maybe one day be in the Premier League and that is what I’m driving for. Wednesday is a massive game. That is what the focus is now."
He added: "We have played the most games in English football and the squad is stretched to the maximum, but my players have shown an absolute willingness to not get beaten and to win football games.
"With the good momentum we have at the moment I hope we can tackle the amount of games coming up.”
