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Southampton FA Cup winner Peter Rodrigues reveals secret to success: Get on the beers!

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Rodrigues was the captain who lifted the 1976 FA Cup when second division Southampton stunned United under the old Twin Towers.

Rodrigues said: “We had fabulous characters in the side and Lawrie McMenemy was a great man-manager who managed the likeable rogues we had.

“Puel will have the same problem with his players because there are a few different characters in and you have to get them all playing at one time.

“On the Thursday before the final we did a television interview and as he left, Lawrie said we could all have a couple of halves of lager, which we did.

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Man United ace Ander Herrera: Zlatan Ibrahimovic is scary, he looks 28 with his shirt off!

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The swaggering Swede will be the focus of attention when United face Southampton in tomorrow’s EFL Cup final at Wembley. Ibrahimovic has simply been sensational this season since joining United on a free transfer with 24 goals so far, to become United’s new talisman and keep Jose Mourinho’s men on course for a hat-trick of trophies. Team-mate Ander Herrera is convinced that 35-year-old Ibrahimovic frightens the life out of opponents and that Saints will be no different. The Spanish midfielder said: “He is the target for us. He has great height, he holds the ball up and he has the fantasy to resolve the play like he did. "It was fantastic to get him because sometimes opponents are scared of him and the rest of us take advantage of that.

“When he takes his shirt off and you see his body he looks 28 or 29” “We get more space, more second ball. We have one of the best in the world. “He is a strange case, a one-off, when he takes his shirt off and you see his body he looks 28 or 29. “Sometimes, I ask him what he is doing to continue to play the way he is doing because this is something I’d like to copy. “We are so lucky because we have him. Hopefully we can enjoy him for a long time.” United go into the showdown high on confidence following just one defeat in the last 25 outings and are redhot favourites to win Mourinho his first trophy as boss at Old Trafford. Herrera makes no bones about the fact United should come out on top and admits winning is expected.

He said: “We want to win every trophy because we want to respect our history and our fans. “This club is about titles. “We don’t choose which competitions we go for, we go into all of them to try to win. We know it is not easy, but we try. “Everyone who watches our games realises very quickly that a big team is playing because we control the games. “We have a lot of confidence in ourselves and we are showing just how difficult it is to beat us. “I cannot say it is impossible to beat us but it is difficult because we are very compact, we all attack and we create chances. “We are in a good moment but I always say that football has no memory and if we don’t perform well, everyone will forget what we have done.”

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Have a great day, Chris Baird! :tada: #saintsfc

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 25/02/2017 10:58:12

| | 3 Man United tactical tweaks Mourinho must make for vital Southampton EFL Cup clashFOOTBALLFANCAST |
| | Southampton boss offers fitness update on Boufal and CaceresHEREISTHECITY |
|

| Gary Neville states his prediction for Man United v Southampton | FootballSPORTREVIEWCOM |

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Oh for another #SaintsFC hat-trick this weekend!

#OnThisDay in 2012, Rickie Lambert hit this treble at #WatfordFC: https://grabyo.com/g/v/r2dNUIzgH2m

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Sourced from Daily Star article

Southampton star Steven Davis: We can make history if we repeat history

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It’s 41 years since Lawrie McMenemy’s Second Division side stunned mighty United with a Bobby Stokes goal to win the FA Cup. Tomorrow Claude Puel’s current crop of stars go in search of another Wembley upset in the EFL Cup final. And captain Davis believes his side can make it a hat-trick of shock wins this season after knocking out Arsenal and Liverpool on the way to Wembley. Saints have beaten a Premier League side in every round, without conceding a goal. Midfielder Davis said: “It is fantastic for the club to be in this position. The Southampton fans still talk about 1976 when the club last won a major trophy. “It’s been a long wait for the supporters and it is ironic that this final is against United, just like it was back then. We’ll be looking for the same result and creating a little bit of history for the club.

“We never go into any game with any fear factor” “It’s a great achievement for us to get to the final, especially as we have played Premier League opposition and had difficult fixtures in every round. “We had to go to the Emirates for the quarter-finals against Arsenal, and then when we drew Liverpool in the semi-finals they were the form team, so to beat them home and away over the two legs was a massive boost for everyone at the club. “Now we have a great opportunity to go to Wembley and pick up some silverware. “Taking on Manchester United is obviously going to be a tough game. You really don’t expect anything else when you are playing them. ‘‘They have a manager with a great history of winning trophies and world class players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic and others who have been there and done it and got the medals. “But we never go into any game, no matter who we are playing against, with any fear factor. If we will believe in ourselves on the day and stick to our principles and be brave to play and brave to press, I believe we can be a match for any team.”

Davis may be underrated by opposition fans and pundits, but ask anyone at Southampton and they rave about him. He’s a footballer’s footballer and in Northern Ireland has legendary status after inspiring his country to Euro 2016 and excelling as captain in last summer’s tournament. The 32-year-old said: “It’s never been on my mind to leave this club. I love it at Southampton, my family have settled into the area really well and I enjoy playing for the club and the fans. “It has been a great club for me. It has been a good relationship, it is a club that wants to keep improving and I also want to improve as well. I think as a player, I have improved since I came to the club and have thoroughly enjoyed my time here. “There are great foundations at Southampton. They run deep in the club about how they want things done and just because you lose a few players or managers, as has happened in my time here, it doesn’t alter the direction the club want to go in. “The mentality stays the same and anyone who is coming into Southampton, be it a manager or a player, has to buy into that.”

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 25/02/2017 11:58:25

|

| Jose Mourinho: This Man United player will definitely be involved against Southampton | FootballSPORTREVIEWCOM |
| | Saints Have More Cup Final Experience Than You Would Think ! - Southampton NewsTHEUGLYINSIDE |
| | Southampton’s Claude Puel a manager of real substanceIRELANDCOM |
| | Manchester United vs. Southampton: EFL Cup 2017 Final News, Live Stream, TV InfoBLEACHERREPORT |
| | In video: What you need to know ahead of the EFL finalBTSPORT |
| | UNTOLDARSENAL |

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@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

Through the highs and the lows.

Still as passionate. Still as committed.

#MarchToWembley https://grabyo.com/g/v/TZKzVqKtyqW

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Video: Davis can’t wait for EFL Cup final

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Puel’s EFL Cup final team news update

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The Uruguay international was signed on a short-term deal last week, but the former Barcelona and Juventus defender has not played a competitive game in 12 months.

Puel, however, was impressed by the 29-year-old’s fitness levels during last weekend’s training camp in Spain, and explained that he could make the squad for Sunday’s clash with Manchester United, at Wembley.

“I think it was interesting for Martín and Manolo [Gabbiadini] also, to come to this training camp,” said the Saints boss.

"It was a good opportunity to get to know all the other players and to build up a good acquaintance between themselves.

“It’s a good surprise about Martín, because he is physically fit and we will see if he can participate for the final, because it would be his first game in one year, but I think he can give a good solution – perhaps for the final, and for the future.”

With Sofiane Boufal having missed the 4-0 win over Sunderland, there has been a doubt about him, but Puel confirmed the playmaker had returned to training and will be assessed tomorrow.

“Sofiane comes back step-by-step in the training sessions,” said Puel. “We will see tomorrow. He is better and I hope he can participate also with the squad.”

The Saints boss added there are no new injury concerns, with long-term absentees Charlie Austin, Virgil van Dijk, Jérémy Pied, Matt Targett and Alex McCarthy still unavailable.

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Sourced from Daily Mail article

Manchester United vs Southampton, EFL Cup final analysis

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The EFL Cup final takes place at Wembley on Sunday with Manchester United taking on Southampton for the first major silverware of the season.

But how do the two teams match up? Sportsmail casts our eye over the probable starting line-ups to assess the strengths and weaknesses.

One of the greatest goalkeepers in the world, who is still wanted by Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Jose Mourinho won’t let him go without a fight, though, and De Gea is set to start in the final on Sunday. When his defenders look back at him in goal, they will feel they are in good hands.

There’s been a tale of two full backs at United this season. While Luke Shaw’s stock has fallen on the left, Valencia’s has risen on the right.

Valencia is their first choice in this position after years of terrorising the right wing.

Not consistent – just look at the criticism he received after the game against Blackburn in the FA Cup – but is set to start on Sunday.

Is he reliable? Will Southampton’s attackers fancy their chances against the centre back? Either way, Mourinho is relying on him now.

A fine summer signing by Mourinho with Bailly having impressed since his move to the Premier League.

The 22-year-old was sent off against Saint-Etienne in the Europa League on Thursday but will have to put that out of his mind as he faces Southampton.

It seems no left back is safe at Old Trafford. Amid the situation surrounding Shaw, there are now reports that Blind will be next to be given the boot.

The Holland international is set to start on Sunday, however, as he looks to clinch silverware.

One key battle of Sunday’s showdown will be between Herrera and Oriol Romeu. Both play pivotal roles for the respective teams.

Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante raised the profile of the deep midfielder and a lot of eyes will be on Herrera when he goes up against Southampton. An eight out of 10 from us.

The £89million man who is starting to show why he cost such a pretty penny. Pogba’s passing and link-up play with Ibrahimovic is beginning to pay off.

We’ve gone for 4-2-3-1 here, but if Mourinho opts for a 4-3-2-1, Pogba could play as a left midfielder in the middle three.

Mata is now one of Mourinho’s key men, a crucial component ahead of Sunday’s final.

He will look to use his creativity to open up a Southampton side whose defence has shown itself to be rock solid in the competition.

With Henrik Mkhitaryan a major doubt, Rooney could start for United amid his links to the Chinese Super League.

Say what you want about Rooney but the England international is still useful. We have him at eight out of 10 for what he can bring to the table against Southampton.

Mourinho challenged Martial in press conferences to prove why he should play and, on Sunday, the winger is set to get his chance.

First-team opportunities haven’t always been gifted to him and so he’s had to wait for games. The 21-year-old is starting to show signs of improvement after a slow start to this season.

There were plenty of pundits who thought the Premier League would prove too tough for Ibrahimovic at the age of 35. How he’s silenced them.

Ibrahimovic, heading for a sixth successive season of 30 goals or more, is lethal. A nine and a half out of 10 from us.

An asset for Southampton between the sticks with the Premier League club having conceded only one goal more than Liverpool and two than Manchester City this season.

There is a reason why Barcelona are apparently looking at Soares, 25, as a summer signing.

The Euro 2016 winner with Portugal is on their right back radar because he has shown potential. He is a shock name on the Spanish side’s shopping list but will want to show what he can do.

A rising star from the Southampton academy, who stunned Liverpool in the EFL Cup semi-final second leg. After a nervous opening, he settled, and his talent shone through.

Standing in for the injured Virgil van Dijk, the 23-year-old starlet, who is still in the early stages of his career, is to face United.

This will be a tough job for Yoshida and Stephens, with the pair to have to handle Ibrahimovic, Juan Mata, Anthony Martial and Co.

Yoshida has played every minute of Southampton’s EFL Cup campaign, helping them keep five consecutive clean sheets. A lucky charm?

No major issues at left back for Southampton, though, who will turn to Bertrand.

The 27-year-old, formerly of Chelsea, spoke previously about how playing in the centre feels natural to him. On Sunday, he will be needed on the wing. A busy day ahead for him.

Romeu, the former Barcelona and Chelsea player, has thrived on the south coast since signing for Southampton.

The 25-year-old is a shield for the Saints defence and, if United are to win this, then they will have to break down this barrier.

Never easy being compared to the world’s most expensive footballer. Here we have Davis, the 32-year-old midfielder for Southampton.

With the star names on show for United, this will be tough for Davis, but a time for him to show he can handle it.

Ward-Prowse is aiming to make Southampton history. He was with them for the less extravagant days and is now hungry for the EFL Cup trophy.

The 22-year-old will look to give United left-back Blind an uncomfortable afternoon at Wembley.

On his day, Tadic can destroy a team, which United will remember when his winner condemned them to defeat at Old Trafford in January 2016.

He was praised for his performance against Sunderland, with Claude Puel labelling it his ‘best game’ of the season. Another one of those on Sunday would be helpful for Southampton.

Fresh from winning the England Under 21 Player of the Year award, Redmond is now aiming to cause United problems. His and Valencia’s battle should be worth watching on Sunday.

Redmond wants to build on Southampton’s momentum after their win over Sunderland.

Southampton, though, have their own star striker in Gabbiadini. The £14m deadline day signing has scored three times in two appearances.

The Italian scored twice in the game against Sunderland and goes into this in fine form, with Puel banking on him being the difference if Southampton are to win.

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WATCH: Matt Le Tissier reveals penalty tactics

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Matt Le Tissier, the Southampton legend and Sky Sports pundit, has revealed the secrets behind his penalty-taking technique.

The striker reportedly missed just one of 49 penalties taken in his 16 years with the Saints, but how was he able to boast such a tremendous success rate?

Speaking to Southampton stopper Fraser Forster on Soccer AM ahead of Sunday’s EFL Cup final at Wembley, live on Sky Sports, Le Tissier revealed he would pit himself against youth team goalkeepers in training to “put a little bit of pressure on myself”.

Forster turned interviewer and asked Le Tissier if he spent extra hours on the training pitch perfecting his spot-kick technique.

He replied: "Only if we hadn’t been given one for a couple of months - If we were getting one every three or four weeks then I wouldn’t bother practising in between.

“If we went a while then I used to get the youth team goalkeeper out to make sure that he was actually going to try for them. If you stuck a first-team goalie in there, they’d be like 'No I’m not really that bothered. I used to give them £10 for everyone he saved; I didn’t part with too much money in my time but that was how I put a little bit of pressure on myself when I was just in training.”

Southampton face Manchester United at Wembley on Sunday, coverage begins on Sky Sports 1 HD at 3.45pm.

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:one: day to go until our #MarchToWembley!

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 25/02/2017 12:58:37

| | Match Preview: Manchester United vs Southampton – Midfield class v midfield grunt | Outside90OUTSIDE90 |
| | Saints V Manchester United The Wembley Preview - Southampton NewsTHEUGLYINSIDE |
| | Would Southampton wrestle edge off Manchester United if EFL Cup final goes to extra-time?HEREISTHECITY |
| | Mourinho provides insight into selection plans - Official Manchester United WebsiteOFFMANUTD |

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Read Southampton

New content from (- Read Southampton)

| Exclusive - EFL Cup final interview with Lee Holmes | Ahead of the EFL Cup final this weekend, I caught up with yet another ex-Southampton player; Exeter midfielder Lee … 25-02-2017 |

Older content…

| Redmond happy to be learning under Puel2 days ago |
| Puel hopes Saints can win cup for the fans2 days ago |
| Manchester United vs Southampton: EFL Cup Final Predicted XI2 days ago |
| Manchester United vs Southampton - Combined XI2 days ago |
| How will Southampton do in the EFL Cup final?2 days ago |
| What makes a Saint?2 days ago |
| Exclusive - EFL Cup final interview with Billy Sharp2 days ago |
| Chinese bank CITIC Securities ready £225m Saints bid3 days ago |
| Gabbiadini settling well in England, agent reveals3 days ago |

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Mourinho: The best team will win

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Manchester United manager José Mourinho hopes his side’s desire will match Southampton’s, as the two teams prepare to go head-to-head in the EFL Cup final.

United remain involved in three other competitions this season, while Saints will be playing for their Premier League position after this game.

In his pre-match press conference, the Portuguese was quick to dismiss the notion that Saints want to win the competition more than he does. However, he knows his team must match the efforts of Claude Puel’s men if they are to have a chance of being successful on Sunday.

“If they want it more than us, they win, so we have to be sure they don’t want it more than us,” he told reporters ahead of the Wembley showdown.

“That’s the point. They want it a lot, of course they want it a lot. But I don’t think they want it more than us.

“So I think the best team on the pitch will win and it won’t depend on motivation.”

If United win then Mourinho will become the first manager in the club’s illustrious history to lift a trophy in his debut season.

The former Chelsea boss, who lifted this trophy in 2005, 2007 and 2015, is focusing on doing so again for the good of his club and not for personal glory, as he also bids to become the third manager to win the competition a fourth time.

United won the FA Cup last season to end a three-year run without lifting a trophy, and went on to win the Community Shield ahead of the current campaign too, but Mourinho says it’s important for the club to maintain their winning run in major finals.

“If is a big thing in football, but if we do then I think it’s more important that it’s about the club and not myself,” he explained.

“I have so many good things in my career that I wouldn’t be influenced by a little detail, but the most important thing is the club and the club won a trophy last season, so let’s try to win another one this season.

“There’s also the quality and dimension of our football which is very important and I realise that by the fans’ reaction that it’s very important,” Mourinho added. “Their happiness, their connection and their empathy with the way the team plays, so it would be good for the group and good for the club.

“It would be also good for me obviously, but at the beginning of my career I was looking more to myself and my personal achievements, but now I’m in a period where I’m more and more and more a club man.”

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Puel: ‘Zlatan can’t surprise us’

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Southampton manager Claude Puel has backed his patched-up defence to deal with Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Saints are without key defender Virgil van Dijk for Sunday’s Wembley showdown with Manchester United in the EFL Cup final. Instead teenager Jack Stephens, who is almost half Ibrahimovic’s age, is set to be handed the job of shackling United’s superstar striker.

But Puel, who came up against former Paris Saint-Germain player Ibrahimovic while managing Lille in France, insists the in-form Swede holds no surprises for his side.

‘I know Ibrahimovic very well from the French Premier League so I cannot be surprised by him,’ said Puel.

'In France he was a fantastic player but all the people say ‘Okay, it is the French Premier League and not the English one’.

'But he has come here, he is 35 and he can do a fantastic job, fantastic work. He is clinical, very efficient and also he gives a good authority to the team. He is a character player.

'He is very self-confident - he plays with this. He is a strong man and a strong partner. At Paris Saint-Germain he gave a good atmosphere around the team and gave his team fantastic confidence.

'He doesn’t run a lot but always with a good run, with good play, good gestures. It is fantastic to see him.

'We’ll see if Jack starts this game. But for me of course I’m confident with the player, with the squad. I saw at our training camp in Spain very good concentration, very good spirit, quality in the training sessions.

'There was big attention from Jack and all these young players. They stay calm and just focus about what they can have to do.

‘All the players can play in my team against Ibrahimovic. They know him now. We will give a good answer.’

Saints were able to head to Spain thanks to a two-week break following their thumping 4-0 win over Sunderland.

United, by contrast, have crammed in three games in that time in both the Europa League and the FA Cup.

Yet Puel said: 'I don’t know if it will benefit because two weeks without an official game is sometimes difficult.

'At the beginning it is interesting to give a day off since the beginning of the season for the team. It is always difficult to find the good balance, the good work, to keep the good result without games.

'Sometimes I prefer to play every three days but sometimes without a game for a week it is better.

'But I think we find a good confidence about our last game with Sunderland and other work we can do in the training sessions also.

‘It is a good challenge and we will see this on Sunday.’

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Claude Puel backs Jack Stephens to cope with United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic

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Southampton manager Claude Puel has backed his patched-up defence to deal with Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Saints are without key defender Virgil van Dijk for Sunday’s Wembley showdown with Manchester United in the EFL Cup final.

Instead teenager Jack Stephens, who is almost half Ibrahimovic’s age, is set to be handed the job of shackling United’s superstar striker.

But Puel, who came up against former Paris St Germain player Ibrahimovic while managing Lille in France, insists the in-form Swede holds no surprises for his side.

“I know Ibrahimovic very well from the French Premier League so I cannot be surprised by him,” said Puel.

"In France he was a fantastic player but all the people say ‘Okay, it is the French Premier League and not the English one’.

"But he has come here, he is 35 and he can do a fantastic job, fantastic work. He is clinical, very efficient and also he gives a good authority to the team. He is a character player.

"He is very self-confident - he plays with this. He is a strong man and a strong partner. At Paris Saint-Germain he gave a good atmosphere around the team and gave his team fantastic confidence.

"He doesn’t run a lot but always with a good run, with good play, good gestures. It is fantastic to see him.

"We’ll see if Jack starts this game. But for me of course I’m confident with the player, with the squad. I saw at our training camp in Spain very good concentration, very good spirit, quality in the training sessions.

"There was big attention from Jack and all these young players. They stay calm and just focus about what they can have to do.

“All the players can play in my team against Ibrahimovic. They know him now. We will give a good answer.”

Saints were able to head to Spain thanks to a two-week break following their thumping 4-0 win over Sunderland.

United, by contrast, have crammed in three games in that time in both the Europa League and the FA Cup.

Yet Puel said: "I don’t know if it will benefit because two weeks without an official game is sometimes difficult.

"At the beginning it is interesting to give a day off since the beginning of the season for the team. It is always difficult to find the good balance, the good work, to keep the good result without games.

"Sometimes I prefer to play every three days but sometimes without a game for a week it is better.

"But I think we find a good confidence about our last game with Sunderland and other work we can do in the training sessions also.

“It is a good challenge and we will see this on Sunday.”

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 25/02/2017 13:58:51

| | Mata insists Manchester United will not take EFL Cup final for grantedFOURFOURTWO |
| | Saints boss ready for UtdCLUBCALL |
| | Carrick expected to start for Manchester United against Southampton in EFL Cup finalSQUAWKA |

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