Fulham Boss Jean Tigana is quite clear about what Fulham's FA Cup run will
mean if they lose to Chelsea in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final - nothing.
The Fulham manager, who was a World Cup star for France, said: 'For me,
it is not an achievement to reach the semi-final. The achievement is to
win it and to be in the final.'
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| |
Fulham manager Jean Tigana
looking forward to big day on Sunday
|
|
| |
|
|
Tigana has never watched a video of France's epic World Cup semi-final in
1982 against West Germany. Then, his side lost a 3-1 lead in extra time
and were beaten on penalties. Tigana explained: 'As soon as the match was
lost, that was the end of it for me. You have to move on.'
Tigana has tried to instill the same tough-minded approach into his players
before their semi-final game against their West London neighbours.
After Monday night's draw at Newcastle, Premiership survival is now within
touching distance for Fulham, and that is something Tigana is willing
to smile about.
He said: 'If you stay in the Premier League, that is a good season'.
But now Fulham are in the last four of the FA Cup, he wants to win it.
'I like the compliment that people say we play good football, but I also
want us to win. What we have needed this season is to score goals, we
miss too many chances. But many of my players have not played at this
level before and they have had to learn quickly because Premiership football
is so different.'
Tigana accepts that Chelsea will not feel the pressure at Villa Park
on Sunday. 'Why should they?' he said. 'It should not be a problem for
them. They have players like Marcel Desailly, they have stars who have
played at the highest level for many years. They are used to this kind
of attention.
'They have played in important international matches and European Cup
finals. This kind of game is not new to them whereas for many of my players
it is a discovery process.'
One who is finding out what life in the Premiership is all about is Steve
Marlet. Signed for £11.5million from Lyon, the French striker was
ruled out for two months with a knee injury after joining in September.
Tigana said: 'He is now beginning to show what he can do. He is back.'
Tigana's message to his team before they go out will be a simple one. 'Just
be yourselves, just be normal and play your usual game. Good players, they
can give their 100 per cent performance in tough matches. That is what we
must try to do and I will try to make my approach as normal as possible.'