Alex McLeish is hoping to hand Birmingham owner Carson Yeung a birthday present by winning the Carling Cup.
Scot aims to reward owner as he gears up for Gunners clash
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish is hoping to hand club owner Carson Yeung a perfect birthday present by winning the Carling Cup.
The Hong Kong businessman turns 51 on Sunday, the day of his team's Carling Cup final meeting with Arsenal.
Yeung, who took control at St Andrews 16 months ago, will fly in for the Wembley final as City attempt to secure their first major trophy since their League Cup triumph in 1963.
McLeish would like nothing more than to hand the owner a birthday present he will never forget.
He said: "Carson has had a great run since he came in here. It's almost like a lucky mascot thing.
"We had a great finish to last season in finishing ninth in the Premier League and now we are in the Carling Cup final.
"I just hope if we win this, he will not be looking for me to win the Champions League next year!
"It's been a great couple of years for the owners and Carson's commitment has been enormous.
"The final will be momentous for Carson, not least because it is his birthday. We would all love to give him the best birthday present ever."
Trophy hunt
McLeish is no stranger to winning trophies, lifting 19 in Scotland during his time as a player and manager.
The 52-year-old admits that success on Sunday would rank alongside any of his previous achievements.
He said: "It would be massive success in terms of the size of Birmingham as opposed to a massive club like Glasgow Rangers.
"The successes I had in Glasgow were against a fantastic Celtic team.
"They were two really good Old Firm teams that could easily have graced the Premier League without question.
"During that time, Celtic, of course, took a couple of English scalps in their run to the Uefa Cup final when they beat Liverpool and Blackburn. That showed their pedigree.
"In relative terms, winning the Carling Cup would be up there in terms of those triumphs in Scotland."
Psychology
McLeish is hopeful that a recent lack of trophy success for Arsenal could work in his side's favour come Sunday.
"They've not won anything for five years and that has got to be at the back of their minds," he added.
"I know that maybe they won't talk about that openly but I'm sure it will be at the back of a few of the players' minds.
"They'll see it as massive opportunity as well - but I plan to celebrate my first tilt at a trophy in England by winning it."
