Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino seeks place in FA Cup history alongside Tottenham legends Ricky Villa and Ossie Ardiles
The Argentinian can remember watching his compatriots in action for Spurs as they starred in the 1981 FA Cup final replay
SOUTHAMPTON manager Mauricio Pellegrino wants to become an FA Cup legend like fellow Argentinian Ricky Villa.
Pellegrino was a wide-eyed nine-year-old watching in awe back home as Tottenham hero Villa scored his famous Wembley winner against Manchester City in the 1981 final.
Former Liverpool defender Pellegrino, 46, whose Saints side take on Watford today, said: “When I was in Argentina, I remember the slogan, ‘the oldest competition in the world’.
“Players like Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa have references in my childhood and obviously I remember some goals in this competition — in the final.
“I know Villa personally as a friend of mine is a friend of his. I respect him. He was really kind with me when I met him.
“He was a top player who played in World Cups and was a big player for big clubs. I admire him as a person and as a player.
“Every year he gets invited to Tottenham and hopefully in 20 years’ time people in Southampton can invite me and send me a couple of tickets.”
Saints have not won a major trophy since Lawrie McMenemy guided them to a shock victory over Manchester United in the 1976 final.
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Pellegrino added: “We have to think step by step. To arrive at the final is the peak of a mountain but we have the mountain still to climb.
“We will try to do it. For us it is important to keep growing.”
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The match will see Javi Gracia make his bow as Watford manager and Pellegrino has warned the Spaniard the Premier League is a big step up from La Liga.
Pellegrino said: “The best and worst thing is right now the Premier League is one of the hardest competitions.
“You have got ten or 12 teams within six points of each other and it’s really difficult to see another league with the same level of tight competition.
“Maybe ten years ago, three or four teams were really separated from the rest. Now the difference between the bottom and the middle of the table is closer.
“Liverpool can beat Manchester City and lose to Swansea in one week. It is really hard to find this in any other league.”
Southampton’s new £19million record signing Guido Carrillo is available to face Watford, while Shane Long and Maya Yoshida are fit after missing last weekend’s draw with Tottenham.
