MELCHIOT HOPING TO REKINDLE WINNING FEELING AGAINST FORMER CLUB
Wigan Athletic's captain Mario Melchiot won the FA Cup with Chelsea in 2000 and the Dutch international wants to rekindle that winning feeling against his former club in the world's most renowned cup competition in Saturday's Fourth Round.
The 31-year-old dreadlocked defender signed on at Stamford Bridge from home-town club Ajax on a Bosman ruling in the summer of 1999. Within a year he had won the FA Cup under the guidance of Gianluca Vialli.
Of the 1-0 victory over Aston Villa - the last final at Wembley before it was refurbished - Melchiot said: "It was unbelievable. When you win something it is always special.
"I came from winning trophies and then I picked up one straightaway. That is a great feeling.
"It pushed me forward and made me realise how special the FA Cup is to the fans."
Wigan sit precariously one place above the Premier League relegation zone on points difference. Chelsea have dropped only two points in their last ten games.
But Melchiot insists that the form book should be thrown out of the window for FA Cup games.
He said: "Everybody knows our situation in the league, and that is the most important thing. But this is one of those games that puts a cherry on the cake because it's Chelsea.
"It's a big game for us because Chelsea are a great team to play against. When a big team come to Wigan, it's always special to play against them."
Wigan Athletic's captain Mario Melchiot won the FA Cup with Chelsea in 2000 and the Dutch international wants to rekindle that winning feeling against his former club in the world's most renowned cup competition in Saturday's Fourth Round.
The 31-year-old dreadlocked defender signed on at Stamford Bridge from home-town club Ajax on a Bosman ruling in the summer of 1999. Within a year he had won the FA Cup under the guidance of Gianluca Vialli.
Of the 1-0 victory over Aston Villa - the last final at Wembley before it was refurbished - Melchiot said: "It was unbelievable. When you win something it is always special.
"I came from winning trophies and then I picked up one straightaway. That is a great feeling.
"It pushed me forward and made me realise how special the FA Cup is to the fans."
Wigan sit precariously one place above the Premier League relegation zone on points difference. Chelsea have dropped only two points in their last ten games.
But Melchiot insists that the form book should be thrown out of the window for FA Cup games.
He said: "Everybody knows our situation in the league, and that is the most important thing. But this is one of those games that puts a cherry on the cake because it's Chelsea.
"It's a big game for us because Chelsea are a great team to play against. When a big team come to Wigan, it's always special to play against them."
Labels: Chelsea, FA Cup, Mario Melchiot, Wigan
