Southampton's Charles on FA Cup semi-final against Man City
Southampton face Man City in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday, and it is set to be a huge occasion for Shea Charles.
The midfielder scored the winner as they stunned Arsenal 2-1 in the previous round to take them to Wembley.
“It was a mad one," Charles tells Sky Sports. "I did not start the game, so I knew I had to make an impact when I got on. I managed to do that and it was a great performance from the team. The atmosphere was incredible that night and the fans got what they deserved.
"It was unbelievable to score the winner. When you come on, you do not expect it, but when the opportunity comes you have to put it in the back of the net. It was a really good night.
"I have played against players of that level on the international stage, so I back myself in any game. There is always confidence to go and do that at club level as well. Getting the winner was really good for me and for my confidence."
The semi-final takes on more meaning for Charles, 22, because he was a Man City academy graduate, making a sole appearance for the club before moving to Southampton in 2023.
"A semi final at Wembley in the FA Cup is incredible, and to face Manchester City makes it even bigger," he adds. "They are probably the best team in the country with their current form, so it will be a really good game.
"There are a lot of City fans in my family, so it adds something extra. Hopefully they will be supporting me on the day. I am really looking forward to it and it will be incredible."
Despite the stern nature of the challenge, Charles and Southampton are confident they can beat anyone right now. The Saints have not lost a game in any competition in more than three months.
"There is a lot of confidence in the team right now," he says. "No matter who we are up against, we believe we can win games in different ways.
"We always try to play our way, but we can adapt. We have players who can hold the ball up, play through the middle or go down the sides. There are so many ways we can hurt teams, and that makes it exciting.”
0 comments:
Post a Comment