Little laughs off Euro talk

Giants kept apart in draw

Tranmere manager Brian Little has revealed his players are joking about qualifing for Europe via the FA Cup.

They will play Sunderland in the semi-final if they win a replay against Millwall, after Premiership giants Manchester and Arsenal were paired.

It means a Football League club will be in the final, with the likely prize of Uefa Cup qualification.

Little said: "We talked about Europe, and it is a joke, but you can have a bit of fun in football can't you?"

Arsenal and Manchester United are almost certain to qualify for the Champions League next season, leaving the European place open for the other finalists.

Little added: "The players are light-hearted and happy and they're enjoying themselves. Deep down we don't want it to stop.

"It's an unbelievable feeling to see the club in the draw for the semi-finals of the FA Cup and we're absolutely delighted that we've got a chance.

"The fans will make people excited. You can genuinely feel there is a buzz around the club and the players do pick up on that."

He said: "I've been in management for a long time and I don't know why but this season has been quite exceptional.

The players are light-hearted and happy and they're enjoying themselves Tranmere manager Brian Little

"When you are manager of a Second Division club you are on a journey.

"Your mentality is different from the big clubs who go out to try and win the competition.

"We've said from day one we are going out to give ourselves a story to tell and we're getting pretty close to it.

"One more win and we are in there. When you get older and your kids ask you about it you can tell them you got that far in the FA Cup and here it is to prove it.

"It's a fantastic competition and all of our players have given themselves a memory they will have for years to come."

Little is relishing the replay, saying: "We will still put them down as favourites and they will know a bit more about us now. They will feel they've got enough to cause us a problem.

"But our mentality might just be slightly different on the night because we might have a go for it.

"There is a danger we could come back down to earth in the replay and we're aware of that, but we'll give it everything we've got.

"We've got a home game to get there and we couldn't ask for any more."