Manchester City vs Bristol City: Korey Smith gunning for ‘best team in the world’ in EFL Cup semi-final
Midfielder Smith shocked Jose Mourinho and Manchester United with the 92nd-minute winner at Ashton Gate
BRISTOL CITY hero Korey Smith hopes to prove nobody is invincible — not even the “best team in the world”.
Smith shocked Jose Mourinho and Manchester United with the 92nd-minute winner at Ashton Gate to send the Championship Robins into the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
Their “reward” is the even more daunting task of a two-legged clash with runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City, starting at the Etihad tonight.
But while Smith and Co need no reminding of the scale of the task, the former Oldham man is dreaming of a feat that would shock football again.
Smith, 26, said: “We’re under no illusions. — Manchester City are probably the best team in Europe, if not the world, at the moment.
“We’ve a lot of respect for them, they have an amazing team and an amazing manager but in football anything can happen. No team is invincible.
“I was gutted when Kevin De Bruyne got injured the other week and hopefully he’ll be involved as I want to play against someone like him.
“In years to come I can tell my kids I faced him, Sergio Aguero and Paul Pogba. Even better if we beat them!”
The Robins have already eliminated Watford, Stoke, Crystal Palace and United and Smith added: “Beating four Premier League teams gives us extra confidence.
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“We’ve proved we are a brilliant team ourselves in doing that and we are in a great position in the Championship.
“So this is a bonus. If we can get to the final it will be unbelievable.”
The trip will be familiar territory for Smith, who used to drive past the Etihad on his journey to train with Oldham.
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The midfielder, who started at Norwich and went on a free to Boundary Park before heading to Bristol for £350,000 in 2014, maintained that his quarter-final heroics have not piled up expectations.
Smith added: “That night I didn’t get much sleep. I have a new baby so I stayed up feeding him and then we had a match a few days later, so it was straight in next day. No celebrations.
“Now we’ve a massive chance for someone to create another special moment.”