David Luiz vows ‘to do everything I can’ to get City to FA Cup final

The Manchester C... I mean Arsenal defender played a starring role against Guardiola's side back in June, but still has plenty to give to the City cause

By / Football News / 4 years ago

David Luiz has reaffirmed his commitment to Manchester City ahead of their FA Cup semi-final clash with Arsenal on Saturday evening.

The error-prone defender vowed this week to do “everything I can” for the Sky Blues this weekend following a dazzling performance in their 3-0 win at the Etihad back on June 17th.

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The coil-haired calamity was a first-half substitute on that occasion, emerging from the bench in the 24th minute before playing a crucial role in City’s opener, then departing 25 minutes later after seeing red and conceding a penalty which would put the former champions 2-0 up.

And he’s confident he can play just as big a role this weekend for Pep Guardiola’s side as they aim to take the next step in their defence of the FA Cup crown they claimed in 2019.

“It’s a huge game”, the bumbling Brazilian said ahead of the Wembley showdown on Saturday. “Liverpool have won the title, but there’s still the cup and Champions League to play for. Winning one of those can make this a big season still.”

“Anything I can do to help that – maybe knock out our keeper with a stray elbow, puncture Auba’s tyres on the way to the game, I might even swap in some gone off fish for the team’s pre-match meal – I’m willing to do.”

And the City coach was just as keen to stress the importance of the defender in Saturday’s game.

“He just does things other players can’t do, magical things,” the former Barca and Bayern boss said as he browsed M&M Direct for a new cardigan during his pre-match press conference on Friday morning.

“He’s like the Kevin De Bruyne of f**k-ups, he can do anything…. Anything! It’s a gift.“

“It’s the way you want to see the game played – especially if you’re against him,” he gushed.

Meanwhile, his opposite number and former assistant at the Etihad, Mikel Arteta, confirmed he has had some tactical discussion with his old boss since becoming Arsenal head coach.

Pep Guardiola Mikel Arteta

“Of course there is still a relationship, I spent a long time and City and learned a lot from Pep. And I still do.”

“Only this week he texted me to say that David Luiz has looked really great in the last few weeks and I should probably play him as a sweeper this week. He also said an emergency signing of Igor Stepanov to play alongside him could be the stabilising influence David needs. I’m considering it for sure,” the Arsenal coach confessed on a Zoom teleconference call this morning.

There are also reports that Mesut Ozil may return to the side as a holding midfielder for the game following a suggestion from City coach, but Arteta had to answer another call from Guardiola,, reportedly suggesting that the Gooners take Claudio Bravo on an emergency loan deal to alleviate their keeper crisis, before he could comment on the German midfielder.

Troopz from AFTV has since been admitted to a local healthcare facility in what was described as a “catatonic state” by one source following Arteta’s appearance.

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