Sometimes semi-finals feel more like the final.
Manchester United face Manchester City in the final four of the FA Cup at Wembley on Saturday, and it's hard to imagine the final will be a more intense occasion.
The winners will face either Stoke City or Bolton Wanderers, who
meet on Sunday in the other semi, in next month's showpiece.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is keen that his players should not get carried away by the atmosphere.
"The manager always says you don't play the occasion you play the game," said captain Rio Ferdinand, who should be fit despite taking a knock during the Champions League win over Chelsea that left him limping.
"If you get too wrapped up in all the stuff that goes on around it you lose sight of where you want to get to. We won't be taking much emotion into the game the way the fans do. We have to remain calm. Then anything is possible."
As United target an unlikely Treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, Ferdinand paid tribute to the importance of the young Mexico striker Javier Hernandez, who scored the opener against Chelsea.
"Javier is doing things at 22 that strikers are only just learning about when they are seasoned professionals of 27 or 28," he said.
"He has just come to the club and is doing textbook stuff like running across the front post all the time to score goals.
"It is great to see. That is why he is nicking so many goals. He is also following up and is on the back post as well."
His form has highlighted the problems City's strikers have had. Edin Dzeko has scored just once since his 27 million-pound (44.2 million dollars) move from Wolfsburg, while Mario Balotelli, bought from Inter Milan for 23 million pounds, has been fitful, scoring 10 goals but being sent off twice.
On Monday against Liverpool, he was substituted despite himself having come on as a substitute for Carlos Tevez, who will almost certainly miss the semi-final with a hamstring injury.
"Mario knows he must take more responsibility," said manager Roberto Mancini. "We have six league games, plus the semi-final and the final. I hope Mario can score important goals.
"He could be the hero. On Saturday, if he plays, he has a chance to do well. Maybe if he scores a goal it could take us to the final. That would change his year."
The clash between Bolton, who have not been in an FA Cup final since 1958, and Stoke, who have never been in one, has generate rather less excitement.
"It's one of those things you have just got to relish. No one should be worried or afraid," said Bolton defender Gary Cahill.
"You just have to go out there with a smile on your face and remember you're playing at Wembley in front of 80,000 people."
Stoke will be without the injured Danny Higginbottom, but forward Ricardo Fuller is available despite a confrontation with a fan last Saturday.
Manchester United face Manchester City in the final four of the FA Cup at Wembley on Saturday, and it's hard to imagine the final will be a more intense occasion.
The winners will face either Stoke City or Bolton Wanderers, who
meet on Sunday in the other semi, in next month's showpiece.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is keen that his players should not get carried away by the atmosphere.
"The manager always says you don't play the occasion you play the game," said captain Rio Ferdinand, who should be fit despite taking a knock during the Champions League win over Chelsea that left him limping.
"If you get too wrapped up in all the stuff that goes on around it you lose sight of where you want to get to. We won't be taking much emotion into the game the way the fans do. We have to remain calm. Then anything is possible."
As United target an unlikely Treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, Ferdinand paid tribute to the importance of the young Mexico striker Javier Hernandez, who scored the opener against Chelsea.
"Javier is doing things at 22 that strikers are only just learning about when they are seasoned professionals of 27 or 28," he said.
"He has just come to the club and is doing textbook stuff like running across the front post all the time to score goals.
"It is great to see. That is why he is nicking so many goals. He is also following up and is on the back post as well."
His form has highlighted the problems City's strikers have had. Edin Dzeko has scored just once since his 27 million-pound (44.2 million dollars) move from Wolfsburg, while Mario Balotelli, bought from Inter Milan for 23 million pounds, has been fitful, scoring 10 goals but being sent off twice.
On Monday against Liverpool, he was substituted despite himself having come on as a substitute for Carlos Tevez, who will almost certainly miss the semi-final with a hamstring injury.
"Mario knows he must take more responsibility," said manager Roberto Mancini. "We have six league games, plus the semi-final and the final. I hope Mario can score important goals.
"He could be the hero. On Saturday, if he plays, he has a chance to do well. Maybe if he scores a goal it could take us to the final. That would change his year."
The clash between Bolton, who have not been in an FA Cup final since 1958, and Stoke, who have never been in one, has generate rather less excitement.
"It's one of those things you have just got to relish. No one should be worried or afraid," said Bolton defender Gary Cahill.
"You just have to go out there with a smile on your face and remember you're playing at Wembley in front of 80,000 people."
Stoke will be without the injured Danny Higginbottom, but forward Ricardo Fuller is available despite a confrontation with a fan last Saturday.
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