Cardiff City looking forward to Carling Cup final

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Friday, February 24 2012 by SNTV

Intro:

Cardiff City midfielder Peter Whittingham said the Carling Cup final against Liverpool on Sunday is a chance to get over some disappointing results at Wembley.

Whittingham was in the Cardiff City side that lost the 2008 FA Cup final to Portsmouth and the 2010 Championship playoff final to Blackpool and thinks it's a "good time to put things right".

Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay added on Thursday that his players were looking forward to "testing themselves against Liverpool".

Script:

Cardiff City will walk out at Wembley on Sunday to play their first ever English League Cup final.

The Championship side are underdogs against English Premier League giants Liverpool.

But Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay said his players won't need any motivation to get going against Kenny Dalglish's side.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

SUPERCAPTION: Malky Mackay, Cardiff City manager:

(How will you prepare your players for the Carling Cup final?)

"I don't think there is any need to get them up for the occasion. I think you go and play a final of the Carling Cup for the first time in the club's history, you go to Wembley against Liverpool there's no need to get them up. We will prepare properly, prepare as we do normally, in terms of preparation a couple of days going into the final. As far as the focus of the players is concerned they're really looking forward to it, looking forward to getting out there and testing themselves against Liverpool."

It's the second time in the last four years that Cardiff City have played in a cup final at Wembley.

But they lost 1-0 to Portsmouth in the 2008 FA Cup final.

Peter Whittingham played that game and also started for Cardiff City against Blackpool in the Championship Playoff final at Wembley in 2010.

Cardiff lost that one too, costing them a place in the Premier League.

But now he's keen to overwrite that with some new memories.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

SUPERCAPTION: Peter Whittingham, Cardiff City:

(about Cardiff City's recent record at Wembley which has seen them lose the 2008 FA Cup final and the 2010 Championship Playoff final)

"Well it's not really been too nice to be honest with you. Obviously we lost to Blackpool in the (Championship) playoff final, so it's a good time to put things right, go and beat Liverpool in a Carling Cup final would be awesome for us and it's one we think we can actually do."

The Cardiff team might be lined up against a familiar face.

Welsh international Craig Bellamy is a lifelong fan and spent last season on loan at the club.

But could he prove their downfall?

SOUNDBITE: (English)

SUPERCAPTION: Peter Whittingham, Cardiff City:

(about the threat of Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy, a lifelong Cardiff City fan, who played at the club last season)

"Let's hope not! He's a, what can you say about Beller's (Craig Bellamy). He's going to be up for it and he's going to want to do well for Liverpool. It's up to us to stop him, we know all about him, he's been here the whole of last season, so we know what to expect (and I) just hope he doesn't cause too much damage."

Cardiff City have had injury concerns over their captain Mark Hudson, but he's said he should be available for selection on Sunday.

If Cardiff win, they'll become the first Welsh side to ever lift the League Cup.