Shane Long has warned Southampton that trying to park the bus against Manchester City in Saturday's FA Cup semi-final would be asking for trouble. The Saints legend believes his former club have the confidence and quality to test Pep Guardiola's side at Wembley.
Confidence Key for Saints
Southampton are massive underdogs heading into the clash, but they are in superb form after storming into Championship promotion contention and knocking out Arsenal in the quarter-finals. Having looked like relegation candidates when Will Still was sacked in November, Tonda Eckert's side are on a 20-game unbeaten run and had won eight in a row before a midweek draw with Bristol City.
Despite those impressive statistics, toppling the Premier League titans remains a huge ask. Long, however, says an upset in front of more than 35,000 Saints fans is possible if they make the most of the limited possession they will get.
Long's Advice
Speaking to Mirror Football, Long said: "Southampton are coming into it with a lot of confidence and they need to use that. Hopefully, we can get a good start, a foothold, and be realistic enough to know they're not going to control it like they do in the Championship. When they do have the ball, keep it. You don't want to just sit in a deep block because you're asking for trouble that way. There's a good mentality in the squad. They've got the fitness to go to the end of the game and that never-say-die attitude."
Long added: "It's a confident dressing room and you can tell they're together as a unit. They get on well off the pitch too. They have great determination to defend and keep a clean sheet."
Magic Moment Needed
Long believes the Saints will need a moment of magic from a player like Brazilian winger Leo Scienza, who has become a talisman since his summer arrival from Heidenheim. Long, 39, said: "Scienza is an unbelievable player. He can control a game and have a magic moment out of nowhere that can get you a goal. There's a lot of talent in that Southampton squad and a lot of options, players who've come from so-called bigger clubs and they're hungry to prove themselves. I'm sure Man City are wary of them. I know City are in good form themselves but this is a big banana skin for them."
FA Cup Glory vs Premier League Return
While Southampton are in promotion contention, Long says he would choose winning the FA Cup over an immediate return to the Premier League. "I think the fans would go for an FA Cup, because the Championship is so enjoyable as well. They still talk about 1976 [when they won the competition] and how big that moment was. Having another moment like that would be incredible. When you retire, having an FA Cup under your belt would be remembered more than getting promoted and then struggling the year after. I'd pick an FA Cup but I'm not sure about the club. Money-wise, the Premier League would be amazing for them."
Long also tipped Leeds to win the other semi-final against Chelsea, adding: "If they can get past Man City, it's a great opportunity to get an FA Cup."
