Man City must beat Man Utd in Carling Cup semi - Tueart
Manchester City fans are hoping Carlos Tevez can get the better of United again
By Sam Sheringham
Manchester City legend Dennis Tueart has called on the current side to finish off rivals Man Utd and end the club's 29-year wait for a cup final.
City take a 2-1 lead into the Carling Cup semi-final second leg at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Victory would take City to their first major final since the 1981 FA Cup.
"It's been too long," said Tueart, who scored the winning goal for City in the 1976 League Cup final. "We have to take this opportunity to win something."
The Carling Cup gives City a chance to land their first silverware since the takeover by billionaire Arab tycoon Sheikh Mansour in 2008. The club has since spent almost £200m on players.
"You have to start somewhere," Tueart added. "To go on to a period of domination, you have to win something.
"It will give [manager Roberto] Mancini an opportunity to sell the club to the players he wants to bring in."
Wednesday night's encounter is one of the most eagerly anticipated Manchester derbies in years, with the clubs competing for a Wembley showdown with Aston Villa against a backdrop of City's wealth, United's debt and deep animosity between rival players and fans.
Tueart said the match is too close to call, as City look to hold onto the slender advantage gained by Carlos Tevez's brace against his former club.
"It was never going to be won in the first game," he said. "The first goal will be absolutely crucial, the whole tie could be decided by that.
"Both sides will put full teams out, but it's a question of which players can handle the occasion."
The build-up to the rematch has been dominated by a spat between Tevez and United defender Gary Neville.
Neville aimed a one-fingured gesture at Tevez following the Argentine's first goal at the City of Manchester Stadium.
Tevez then called former team-mate Neville a "boot-licker" and a "moron" in an interview with Argentine radio.
United fans are once again expected to protest against the Glazer regime
The spat has fanned the flames of the ill-feeling between the two sets of fans, prompting Greater Manchester Police to step up security ahead of the second leg.
With United fans also expected to stage protests against the Glazer family's ownership of the club, an extra 75 officers will be on duty and spot checks will be made at pubs near the ground.
Police made 18 arrests at last week's match and expect to make more after viewing video cameras.
Tueart has called for everyone involved to be conscious of their responsibilities.
"If everyone, from the players, to the fans, to the police, concentrate on their own jobs it's going to be a fantastic evening," he said.
Kevin Parker, secretary of the Official Manchester City Supporters' Club, is concerned that the animosity between the fans could boil over into violence.
"It's going to be a very competitive atmosphere both on and off the pitch," he said. "Unfortunately there was trouble last week and you just do get the impression that there are rumblings and that there may be trouble.
"You can understand the passion of the fans but the enthusiasm and passion should be directed at what's happening on the pitch.
I don't want to be remembered as someone who was part of a team that loses
Jonny Evans
"Hopefully, win, lose, or draw the City fans will uphold the reputation of the football club and hopefully the United fans will do the same."
This year's final has been scheduled for 28 February, the same date as when Tueart booked his place in City folklore with a spectacular overhead kick to clinch a 2-1 victory over Newcastle at Wembley, 34 years ago.
"We're hoping that's a good omen for us," added Parker. "Us football fans will cling onto anything."
While City fans are hoping that victory could be the beginning of a turning of the tide in Manchester football, United defender Jonny Evans has warned that his team are motivated by a fear a failure.
"A big thing at this club is the fear of not winning anything and not finishing at the top," said the Northern Ireland international.
"The players want to be winners and there is something at the back of your mind that says you don't want to be part of a side that doesn't win anything.
"I am a young player who has come into the team over the last couple of seasons.
"I don't want to be remembered by the fans as someone who was part of a team that loses. You don't want to be known as a failure."
United warmed up for the semi-final with a 4-0 demolition of Premier League strugglers Hull on Saturday.
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