Steve Finnan admits that despite a frustrating season, the FA Cup would ease Pompey's relegation pain.
Full back feels cup win will make season worth it
Steve Finnan admits that despite an immensely frustrating season for everyone at Portsmouth, to win the FA Cup would ease their relegation pain.
Pompey's rollercoaster ride has seen the club finish bottom of the Premier League with a nine-point deduction and in administration with a huge amount of debt to pay.
However their fairytale FA Cup run will see top against bottom as the South Coast club prepare to face Chelsea in the final on Saturday at Wembley, allowing coach Avram Grant to gain revenge on the club he was forced out of in 2008.
It is a huge task for Grant to achieve, but in Finnan, Portsmouth have a man who has experience in the cup final, after winning it in 2006 with Liverpool in what will be remembered for Steven Gerrard's magnificent display in a 3-3 draw with West Ham which the Reds eventually took home on penalties.
"A few of us have played in cup finals before now, but having enjoyed our semi-final at Wembley we know the stadium and all about the atmosphere there," Finnan told the
Daily Express.
"When Liverpool beat West Ham in the final at Cardiff in 2006 we were the favourites, and that does put you under pressure.
"However, this time against Chelsea, we are the underdogs. And that can only be good for us. Yes, it is a bit strange that Pompey have managed to reach this final amid everything that has been going on this season.
"But we always play well in cup games and deserve to be there. If we are to win this, then everyone needs to play well and we need that little bit of luck."
Huge achievement
The 34-year-old, who has a UEFA Champions League medal after playing the first half of Liverpool's triumph over AC Milan in 2005, confessed that he had never had a season like it despite all his experience.
It looks likely that the cup final will be Finnan's last game in a Pompey shirt with his contract running out in the summer, but the former Republic of Ireland international insisted he was not thinking just yet about his future in football.
"It is a weird situation because no one knows just what the future of the club will turn out to be," he added.
"From the personal view, I have never experienced anything quite like this at any other club. And I don't think I'll ever see anything like it again, so it has been a huge achievement just getting this far.
"Now, though this is just a one-off match and we have got the confidence to get a result.
"It has been frustrating times to say the least. But if we can win the cup those frustrations will disappear, and it will all have been worthwhile."
