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Man City v. Stoke odds had Manchester City at 4/7 and Stoke 5/1. The draw came in at 3/1. All of these odds were among the best and found at Bet365.com.
ESPN.com noted that “Manchester City are hoping to end 35 years without a trophy, and force the removal of that infamous ticker from Old Trafford's Stretford End. Should they do so, then it is United, and not City who will have suffered Manchester's longest trophy drought, 37 years from 1911 to 1948, though a pernickety type would point out that nine of those years saw regular football suspended for World Wars.”
"I'm excited by this and very proud for my players," Man City's Roberto Mancini said. "I always saw this game on TV in Italy - Manchester United against Chelsea and I watched when Harry Redknapp won with Portsmouth.
"This is a big moment for me in my career. The FA Cup is very important, it is my first final and the first time Manchester City have been in it for a long time. It will be a special day.
"Our target was the Champions League and after that we wanted to get into one of the final. We are in the FA final. It's a good moment for us.
"We have got fourth spot but now we should keep our concentration. If we claim six points (from the last two Premier League matches) maybe we can arrive in third position."
Stoke City’s Kenwyne Jones had this to say about suggestions that he is an “unfulfilled talent”."As a player you would say that every day, from the day you start playing to the day you retire, your best has yet to come.
"Every football player no matter whether they are just beginning or finished playing still feel they can be the best or they can go out and still do something. It is a part of football life, obviously you have ups, you have downs, it is just the course of the game really.
"Hopefully we can all take the chance against Manchester City even though it is going to be a huge test. They have a massive fan base and massive resources and they have world class players so of course it is going to be a test.
"It's not £60 million at the end of it and staying in the league., That's an endurance race over time. When you stay in the league you're happy but this is a bigger prize at stake.
"As much as you have to say you have to try and stay calm, emotions are going to be running high. So we have to try and calm down as soon as possible and do what we can do."
Underdogs have not had much luck in the FA Cup.
- Alistair Prescott, Gambling911.com
