More than 22 years into his distinguished professional
career, Teddy Sheringham knows exactly what the FA Cup is all
about. And the 40-year-old will savour every single moment of the
build-up to this Saturday's final showdown with
Liverpool.
"You're in football to enjoy things and I will certainly enjoy this week," insists the veteran striker, who came on as an early substitute to open the scoring and set Manchester United on their way to a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United in 1999.
"Back then, I thought that it might have been my last chance of winning something and I cherished the moment. After all, the FA Cup is steeped in tradition and it's a competition in which you want to be involved."
Ironically, having secured his one and only FA Cup winners medal, Sheringham's late, late leveller in the Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich four days later, then helped to secure an unforgettable treble for United.
And that in turn saw the Red Devils' controversial withdrawal from the following season's FA Cup competition.
"There was a little dip around that time as to what the tournament meant to everybody but now it's well and truly back. In 2000, the United players still wanted to appear in the FA Cup and, even though it was lovely to go to Brazil to take part in the World Club Championship, we still wanted to play against English clubs in an English competition.
"The nature of the FA Cup means that you can experience dismal moments, but you can also take away some great memories, too.
"For example, I remember going to Liverpool with Tottenham in 1995 and getting clapped off by the Anfield faithful after winning 2-1 in the quarter-final," recalls Teddy, who is clearly hoping that he can again help to throw a spanner in the Merseyside works on Saturday.
"Sometimes, you can get an easy ride and draw a couple of non-league sides plus a couple of home ties. This year though, we've had to play Norwich City, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Manchester City and Middlesbrough, so we're well pleased that we've finally got there," concludes Teddy, for whom it will be business as usual in the run-up to Cardiff.
"I haven't got any cup superstitions because I believe that if you put too much hype on your preparations, then you'll start to do things differently on the day.
"So far, we've responded well to whatever the manager has asked us to do this year and, as long as we don't start doing anything differently, then I'm sure we'll be alright against Liverpool."
"You're in football to enjoy things and I will certainly enjoy this week," insists the veteran striker, who came on as an early substitute to open the scoring and set Manchester United on their way to a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United in 1999.
"Back then, I thought that it might have been my last chance of winning something and I cherished the moment. After all, the FA Cup is steeped in tradition and it's a competition in which you want to be involved."
Ironically, having secured his one and only FA Cup winners medal, Sheringham's late, late leveller in the Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich four days later, then helped to secure an unforgettable treble for United.
And that in turn saw the Red Devils' controversial withdrawal from the following season's FA Cup competition.
"There was a little dip around that time as to what the tournament meant to everybody but now it's well and truly back. In 2000, the United players still wanted to appear in the FA Cup and, even though it was lovely to go to Brazil to take part in the World Club Championship, we still wanted to play against English clubs in an English competition.
"The nature of the FA Cup means that you can experience dismal moments, but you can also take away some great memories, too.
"For example, I remember going to Liverpool with Tottenham in 1995 and getting clapped off by the Anfield faithful after winning 2-1 in the quarter-final," recalls Teddy, who is clearly hoping that he can again help to throw a spanner in the Merseyside works on Saturday.
"Sometimes, you can get an easy ride and draw a couple of non-league sides plus a couple of home ties. This year though, we've had to play Norwich City, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Manchester City and Middlesbrough, so we're well pleased that we've finally got there," concludes Teddy, for whom it will be business as usual in the run-up to Cardiff.
"I haven't got any cup superstitions because I believe that if you put too much hype on your preparations, then you'll start to do things differently on the day.
"So far, we've responded well to whatever the manager has asked us to do this year and, as long as we don't start doing anything differently, then I'm sure we'll be alright against Liverpool."