Cup finals and The New Saints go hand in hand, but no matter how many they play in, the excitement remains the same.
Craig Harrison will manage in his sixth Nathaniel MG Cup final, and he is eager to put yet another piece of silverware in Park Hall’s expanding trophy cabinet.
“The excitement of a cup final never leaves us. We’re here to try and win trophies, win titles, win football games, and this is a historic one for the club and myself. This will be the sixth Nathaniel MG Cup final that I’ve been in, and I’ve won five times before, so from that point of view this is a big one. It would also be a statement early on in the season for us.”
TNS had the potential to win the quadruple last year but only came away with a double. This year, Harrison wants to go one better, especially as the majority of his players and staff haven’t accomplished the achievement before.
“The target every season is to win the treble. We always want to have a good European campaign at the start of the season, which we’ve obviously ticked off this year. Then we want to win the league, because it gives us the opportunity to play in the Champions League. We’re in a reasonably good position to do that at the moment, but there’s still a lot of hard work we have to put in.
“But the goal always is to try and win the treble. I’ve managed to do it here twice before, and there’s a couple of players and staff who are still here who’ve done it, but the majority of people here haven’t won a treble before, and that’s the challenge for this current crop.”
But with such a good squad comes with it plenty of challenges and tough decisions, and the manager admitted picking a team is the hardest part of his job.
“It’s not just difficult to pick for this final but it’s difficult every game. It’s certainly the hardest part of my job. I’ve been there as a player, and I understand the situation and disappointment of not being involved. You spend a lot of time with these players, you build a personal rapport with them, and I’ve got deep relationships with some of them. But that’s the nature of the job, and it’s such a tough part of the job.”
No matter who lines up at Latham Park on Friday night, TNS go into the final against Aberystwyth Town as favourites. Aber find themselves bottom of the table, while the Saints are top. However, Harrison isn’t taking anything for granted.
“It’s going to be a tough game. Aberystwyth have got a young, dynamic and exciting team. The manager has done a good job since he’s come in. They’ve struggled for the last two or three years, and they’re struggling now, but that goes out the window in a cup final. Anyone can win on any given day.
“We know it’s going to be a difficult game. They’re fighting for their lives, and I imagine a cup final victory would give them confidence to then kick on in the league. We won’t be taking things lightly and we’ll prepare like we have done for the European games, and every other game this season.”
If they are to emerge victorious, this would be the Saints’ eleventh Nathaniel MG Cup title, a record number.
With Harrison’s side also in the race to secure two more trophies, the veteran manager is hopeful that a win on Friday will give them the boost they need until the end of the season.
“We’ve won the MG Cup numerous times, and it does give you a shot in the arm and give you the confidence to kick on for the rest of the season. Everyone wants to be in finals and win trophies. We’ve been very fortunate at this football club to win a hell of a lot, and that hunger is still there without a doubt.”
