LIVERPOOL, March 10 – Everton striker Louis Saha believes his side can shock Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-finals despite the amazing form of his former club.
Saha scored the winner in Sunday’s quarter-final against Middlesbrough at Goodison Park and Everton were paired against United in the draw for the last four.
The France star admitted the prospect of facing a United team on course for a remarkable clean sweep of five trophies in one season is daunting, but he is convinced Everton can win at Wembley next month.
"The semi-final draw with Manchester United is obviously extra-special for me, of course, because I used to play for them and this will be a very big moment for me," he said.
"I have only been away from the club for a season, but things have moved on even from my time there. Now they have Dimitar Berbatov to bring in, it is amazing the strength they have right through the squad.
"United are just amazing. The great players they have and the big squad, they seem to win all the time.
"We know it will be hard in the semi-final, and I am really looking forward to facing my old club and the friends I have there. But I also know we can win at Wembley."
Saha left United last year after four frustrating years at Old Trafford ruined by a series of knee injuries.
Everton gave him a chance to prove he could still cope with the top flight on a two million pounds, two-year deal and Saha is starting to repay their faith.
Saha, 30, knows just what Everton will come up against in a United outfit who have dominated as the season has progressed.
"I know Manchester United well, but even I am surprised at what I am seeing from them at the moment," he said.
"They just keep winning and winning. They are hard to break down, hard to beat and they have so many great players.
"And with a manager like Sir Alex Ferguson, there are always good new players arriving each season, the squad is amazing.
"Players can be moved in and out of the team and the wins keep coming. Even without their really big stars they can get the results they want.
"They have so many great players on the bench. When you are able to bring a player as good as Carlos Tevez off the bench, it really is incredible.
Saha knows the semi-final, a re-run of the 1995 final which Everton won 1-0 against Manchester United at the old Wembley, is the toughest draw Everton could have been given.
"We will have to play hard against a team of United’s quality. We will be underdogs against a great team of quality and belief," he said.
"They do not seem to lose many semi-finals, so it will be one of our hardest games of the season, we all know that."
"But that is why there is such magic in football. We can do it, we can get to the final even against the best team in the country. It is special and everything is possible. That is why people pay so much money to see such games between the big clubs.
"We too have the quality and belief to achieve our ambitions, this team knows they are capable of reaching the final."
