Saturday 3rd January 2015 14:42
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Gary Johnson: Wants a good performance
Gary Johnson has warned his Yeovil players that they cannot afford to be in awe of Manchester United ahead of their FA Cup clash.
The Glovers, rock-bottom of League One having lost their last three matches since overcoming Accrington in their FA Cup second-round replay, could be lining up against the likes of Wayne Rooney, David de Gea and a returning Angel Di Maria at Huish Park.
But Johnson will tell his squad to focus on the match and not shirt swapping with some of the world's biggest names.
"Being starstruck by Manchester United is a concern and you can't stop human nature," the Yeovil manager told the Western Gazette.
"This is a one-off game which some of the lads aren't going to have again. I'm sure they will think: 'can I get Wayne Rooney's boots?' You know that's going to happen.
"But we need to make sure we get into game mode. I don't mind it after the final whistle, but I will have the raging hump if my players swap shirts before then.
"I don't want the lads having selfies with Wayne Rooney. We are going into battle and trying to stop one of the best teams in the world. So there won't be any selfies while I'm around."
Yeovil certainly have giant-killing pedigree having knocked out 20 Football League sides during their non-league days and have done battle with United before, back in 1949, on the back of one of their biggest ever scalps.
The then-Southern League Glovers knocked out Sunderland in the fourth round only to be beaten 8-0 by the Red Devils in front of more than 81,000 fans.
And while the most pessimistic of Yeovil fans may be fearing a repeat scoreline, Johnson insists his side will tackle Louis van Gaal's men on the front foot.
He said: "I've never parked the bus as a manager and we don't want to be doing that against Man United. We need our fair share of possession and we need to create chances.
"We don't want to play for a draw against them and get beat and wish we'd gone for it. We need to be trying to win. We aren't going to put 11 men in the box because United would find space anyway.
"On the day, it's 11 versus 11 and the FA Cup is famous for upsets."
One player who will not be involved at a sold-out Huish Park is right-back Brendan Moloney who moved to Northampton on loan until the end of the season earlier this week.
Irish midfielder Kevin Dawson has missed the last month through injury and looks highly unlikely to make his first appearance since the previous round.
via TEAMtalk | Manchester Utd http://ift.tt/145rcmW
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