{"id":88311,"date":"2023-11-30T16:37:53","date_gmt":"2023-11-30T16:37:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebritytidings.com\/?p=88311"},"modified":"2023-11-30T16:37:53","modified_gmt":"2023-11-30T16:37:53","slug":"i-was-axed-from-fa-cup-final-squad-after-fight-with-fabrizio-ravanelli-now-im-plotting-major-cupset-the-sun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebritytidings.com\/sport\/i-was-axed-from-fa-cup-final-squad-after-fight-with-fabrizio-ravanelli-now-im-plotting-major-cupset-the-sun\/","title":{"rendered":"I was axed from FA Cup final squad after fight with Fabrizio Ravanelli – now I'm plotting major cupset | The Sun"},"content":{"rendered":"
NEIL COX'S biggest regret was missing the 1997 FA Cup final for Middlesbrough following a punch-up with team-mate Fabrizio Ravanelli hours before kick off.<\/p>\n
And York City's assistant manager is hoping to deliver another knockout blow to former winners Wigan on Friday.<\/p>\n
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Twenty-six years ago, Bryan Robson\u2019s Boro had just been relegated from the top flight before facing Chelsea in the Wembley showpiece.<\/p>\n
Italian striker Ravanelli was their top scorer but had missed the last two league games with a hamstring injury.<\/p>\n
And former defender Cox told SunSport: \u201cI was asked in an interview before the final what the team should be and I picked Mikkel Beck up front over Ravanelli because he\u2019d been away in Italy for ten days.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe read the article just before we had a team picture taken in our suits on the morning of the game, and he wasn\u2019t happy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d just said we needed a fit team but he took offence to it. He spat at me first, throwing a few haymakers before I retaliated before it all got broken up.<\/p>\n \u201cAs it turned out, our friend Ravanelli played 20 minutes without making a run and then his hamstring went. That cost us the game.<\/p>\n \u201cI had missed a couple of games with a hamstring problem but I was hoping to be a sub, though that incident probably changed the manager\u2019s mind.\u201d<\/p>\n Roberto Di Matteo\u2019s stunning goal after 43 seconds put the Blues ahead before Eddie Newton made it 2-0 late on.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES<\/strong><\/p>\n Cox added: \u201cNot being involved is a huge regret as growing up the FA Cup final was one of the biggest games you could be involved in.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019d lost the League Cup final as well, so what could have ended up being one of Middlesbrough\u2019s best seasons in history turned into a nightmare.<\/p>\n \u201cBut that all happened in 1997. I don\u2019t really look back and we\u2019ve got a huge opportunity tonight against the past winners of the competition. We\u2019ve got nothing to lose.\u201d<\/p>\n Cox moved to York alongside manager Neal Ardley in September, with the Minstermen languishing towards the bottom of the fifth tier.<\/p>\n While they are still in a relegation dogfight, tonight offers the players a golden chance to put themselves in the hat for the third round.<\/p>\n York, who have not got that far since 2011, have seen off Needham Market and Chester so far.<\/p>\n Veteran goalkeeper David Stockdale, 38, will be looking to roll back the years, while top scorer Dipo Akinyemi will provide their greatest threat up front.<\/p>\n And Cox said: \u201cI had my time, now it is up about us settling our stall out and hopefully getting that bit of luck.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to be tough if they turn up but you never know so it\u2019s about us staying in the game.<\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter how old you are, the FA Cup is so important, especially for clubs lower down.<\/p>\n \u201cCan we get to the third round and have a trip to an Old Trafford or an Anfield?<\/p>\n "That\u2019s what we\u2019re looking for.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/picture>BANKRUPT <\/span><\/p>\n
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