Manchester United will meet cross-town rivals City in the Carling Cup semi-final after the draw tonight. Sir Alex Ferguson’s team will play City in the two-legged semi after Mark Hughe’s team thrashed Arsenal 3-0 at Eastlands tonight. The matches, which will take place in January 2010, are the first time United has met City in the League cup semi since 1969.
City, who Ferguson labeled at “small club with a small mentality” earlier this season, famously has not won a trophy since 1976, when the club beat Newcastle United 2-1 to lift the League Cup at Wembley.
“We’re just taking in the events of the evening so we’re on a high at the moment, but I’m sure the whole of Manchester will be looking forward to those two games in the semi-final,” said Hughes, who may need to win the competition to keep his job.
“We’d have fancied our chances against anyone in the draw so bring them on. We played really well tonight and ran our comfortable winners.”
Blackburn will play Aston Villa in the other semi-final, with a Wembley final place at stake.
First leg matches are due to be played week commencing 4th January 2010, with the second leg a fortnight later