Nigel Clough says it is more than just a potential tie with Manchester United that is motivating his Sheffield United side to see off Preston North End on Tuesday night.
The Blades boss is proud of the League One club’s record in cup competitions, after they reached last year’s FA Cup Semi-Final at Wembley, and last week took Tottenham Hotspur to extra-time in the Capital One Cup last four.
Sheffield United v
Preston North End
FA Cup Fourth Round replay
Bramall Lane
7.45pm Tuesday 3 February 2015
Winning side receives £90,000
On Tuesday they face Preston at Bramall Lane for an all-League One FA Cup Fourth Round replay, and victory could set up a Fifth Round clash with Louis van Gaal’s side, providing they overcome Cambridge United at Old Trafford.
Clough took time out of training at St George’s Park to consider his side’s role as serial cup kings.
He said: “The FA Cup last year and the Capital One Cup this year have been great. We just want it to continue.
“We’ve had a great couple of matches with Southampton already coming to Bramall Lane this season and Spurs last week in the second leg,
“We’ve had such a brilliant time playing against teams like that and with the atmosphere as well. Manchester United could be another great moment for us.”
Sheffield United players share a joke while training at SGP
Clough has won an astonishing 14 out of his 18 cup ties during his time at Bramall Lane – and he insists that his record is down to more than good fortune.
“We just take the cups very seriously and we like to get through. It’s good for revenues, and it’s good for supporters,” he said.
“We had a sell-out against Spurs the other night and if we get through to face Manchester United it will be a sell-out again.
“I think that says everything you need to know about why we place such importance on the cups.
“The priority is the league believe it or not – we made 10 changes on Saturday as the lads were shattered after last week’s League Cup semi-final, but a lot of them will be available again against Preston.”
Sheffield United play Preston North End on Tuesday
Clough took his side to St. George’s Park for a last-minute training camp after finding the Blades’ Hallam FM Academy training ground under snow.
And in doing so he returned to the area where his managerial love of The FA Cup began.
He said: “When I started out at Burton just down the road it was seen as a necessity to get through to the First Round, so you were up against the League One and League Two sides. When we were in the Unibond that was a big step!
“We did it a few times and then we got in the Conference we did a bit better again.
“It started out as a financial necessity but it’s the whole package that makes it important. The FA Cup is one of the most prestigious cups in the world.”
And Clough believes there is no better place to prepare to face Preston than St. George’s Park.
Under Nigel Clough Sheffield United have won 14 of their 18 cup ties
“We are under snow at Sheffield still. We’ve got a couple of inches on our training ground and we’d use any excuse to use these fantastic facilities.
“If we were closer we’d use it even more. We’ve got good training facilities but if the weather is bad they always look after us here.
“The players enjoy coming here and we have a bite to eat afterwards so it’s a change of scenery for them.
“Having a purpose-built facility like this pulls everything together.
“From doing your coaching qualifications here to the training pitches and all the rehab facilities.
“It is the whole package. When you have a purpose-built place like this the players feel important and they like to work here.”
