Steve Clarke has revealed he paid no attention to The FA Cup semi-final draw, and does not want to look past Reading’s replay against Bradford City.
The Royals go again against Phil Parkinson’s side on Monday night after the first quarter-final meeting ended in a goalless draw – but Clarke insists his side’s focus is firmly on the task in hand.
"I didn't watch the draw," he said.
Reading v Bradford City
FA Cup Quarter-Final Replay
7.45pm, Monday 16 March
Madejski Stadium
Live on BBC One
Winners receive £360,000 from The FA Prize Fund
"A friend texted me telling me we had drawn Arsenal, but I never intended on watching it.
"Before there is any talk of semi-finals you have to get through to the quarter-final and that's what we intend to do.
"What's the point of thinking about a game that is not there?
"You have to think about the game coming up and it's a very difficult game for us against a very good Bradford team."
Monday night’s semi-final draw saw the winners of the replay paired with eleven-time winners Arsenal.
And Clarke said that despite the exciting prospect, it will not affect how his side approach Monday’s tie at the Madejski Stadium.
“I don't think it (the draw) makes any difference whatsoever,” the 51-year-old continued.
Bradford City and Reading drew 0-0 at Valley Parade on 7 March
“I think the game against Bradford is big enough in its own right and the reward of getting through to an FA Cup semi-final is big enough in its own right.
“So I don't think the semi-final opposition makes a difference to either team.”
Clarke, who made nine changes to his side that lost 4-1 at Watford on Saturday, also said that while the prize of a semi-final date at Wembley is an exciting one – reaching the final four will be equally important.
"To get to Wembley doesn't excite me, to get to The FA Cup semi-final does," he added.
“That's the key for me. One more step in the Cup would be nice. To get to Wembley is just another game, there are no prizes for it.”
“The final goal of any competition is to pick up the silver trophy at the end of it”
Steve Clarke Reading manager
And while he refused to talk about a potential game against Arsenal – who beat Manchester United 2-1 to book their berth – he also said that should they reach the semi-finals, they cannot then think their job is done.
"The final goal of any competition is to pick up the silver trophy at the end of it,” he added.
"It's not to get excited about a semi-final. In a semi-final there is no trophy, there are no medals.
“It's much better to put down on your CV that you have got a Cup winners’ medal or you've lifted a trophy.
"That has to be the ambition. The ambition cannot be to reach the semi-final at Wembley, it has to be to lift the trophy.”
