Brian Kidd was probably the only man at Wembley on Saturday to feel genuine delight at Manchester City’s victory and real compassion for beaten Manchester United in the FA Cup semifinal having played and coached both teams in his illustrious career.
Kidd scored for United on his 19th birthday when they beat Benfica in the 1968 European Cup final at Wembley and after playing more than 200 matches for United, later played more than 100 games for City.
After his playing days ended he returned to United first as youth team coach then as Alex Ferguson’s assistant and played a key role in guiding United to four titles and two FA Cup and League doubles between 1993 and 1997.
After managing Blackburn Rovers and other stints elsewhere he became Roberto Mancini’s assistant at Manchester City 16 months ago.
Talking to reporters after City’s victory, he endearingly referred to both Ferguson and Mancini as boss, but had no doubts where his priortities lie right now with City heading towards their first FA Cup final for 30 years against either Bolton Wanderers or Stoke City who meet in Sunday’s second semi.
Asked if he had any mixed feelings about the result bearing in mind his strong allegiance to United, he said: “Not really. I am delighted for our supporters and naturally our players and I know what United are going through after losing and can sympathise, but you have got to be professional about it.
“I am blessed, being a Manchester lad whose been lucky enough to play for both teams and be associated on the coaching side.
“When I looked around before the kick-off, and you see United and City fans there it was a wonderful feeling for me, a dream.
“But the priority was to win today which we did. We can enjoy it for a few hours — but now we have to go on and win the Cup.
“Our overall priority remains focused on finishing in the top four and getting a Champions League place, but at least we now have the chance to win a trophy after 30-plus years and we have done it against a really good Manchester United side and we will take a lot of confidence from that. But we still have to prove our charachter.”
United dominated the first 25 minutes of the match and should have scored when Dimitar Berbatov had two chances inside the 15th minute, but City who started slowly then began to take control.
“The boss [Mancini] got the midfield players to push up higher and it worked. But I also think by the law of averages, we were due a little change of luck in games against United because they have been so close.
“Berbatov could have knocked one in but it was a great save from Joe, and we took it from there really.”
Yaya Toure’s 53rd minute goal after defensive lapses by United gave City their win and took them closer to their first trophy since they won the League Cup in 1976 and Kidd knows full well the importance of a team winning a trophy after a long period without.
United went 23 years without winning the League from 1967 until 1993 when Kidd was back at the club as Ferguson’s number two and the foundation of that success came after their FA Cup win in 1990 — Ferguson’s first trophy as United manager.
“It’s so important, ask the boss [this time Ferguson] — when United won the Cup in 1990 and they kicked on from there.
The European Cup Winners Cup followed, then we lost the league to Leeds, but won it the following year which showed
the team had some spirit. The year after that we went on to win the Double. It’s intoxicating when you win things.
“I still think United can go on and win the Champions League, it is in them, definitely and I wish them all the very best.
“But for now we need our first trophy — and to finish in the top four. We havent won anything yet.” – Reuters