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      Five Championship stars destined for the Premier League including ex-Arsenal star and winger dreaming of Ballon d’Or

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      HAYDEN HACKNEY’S winner against Chelsea last night made it a night to remember for Middlesbrough at the Riverside.The 21-year-old Boro kid has been superb since breaking into the team last season after a year on loan at Scunthorpe.
      Middlesbrough hero Hayden Hackney has been linked with a Premier League moveCredit: Getty
      He didn’t get much of a look-in under Chris Wilder but Michael Carrick has certainly shown plenty of belief in him and he certainly showed how good he is by shining in midfield against one of the Premier League’s marquee clubs.
      Manchester United and Tottenham are said to be ready to pounce for the youngster although anyone wanting him will almost certainly have to wait for the summer.
      During transfer windows, Premier League clubs are always being linked with players from overseas but here are FIVE other Championship players that really should be a target for top clubs.
      Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland)
      Jobe Bellingham has starred for Sunderland since signing in the summerCredit: Getty
      I’ve enjoyed watching the 19-year-old midfielder who is two years younger than his famous and illustrious brother Jude.
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      Wanting to write his own football story — and not simply be known as the brother of a Real Madrid and England international — the Sunderland kid insisted he wanted the name Jobe on the back of his shirt rather than Bellingham.
      Has a lot of similar attributes to his brother in terms of his physique and maturity. 
      Thought he was outstanding away at Leicester when the Black Cats gave the runaway Championship leaders a tough evening.
      A huge chunk of Bellingham’s minutes have come as a false nine, though he’s also been used behind a more traditional striker and in a deeper midfield position. 
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      Conor Chaplin (Ipswich)
      Conor Chaplin has eight goals and seven assists for Ipswich this termCredit: Getty
      Ipswich simply cannot function as well as they have been this season without him.
      His eight goals don’t tell the story. His pressing is out of this world. His blocks, interceptions and ball recovery has played a huge part in Ipswich’s success story this season. 
      I’ve watched him a number of times and he’s been one of the standout players. He was outstanding down at Southampton in October and he pops up with vital goals like the winner I saw him net at QPR.
      It’s crazy to think this talent has been overlooked by bigger clubs. Thought he was great when he was at Barnsley too. Was huge for the Tykes during his two years there.
      The high press McKenna likes is not as effective without Chaplin — and without his energy up top I feel Ipswich would be a mid-table team. He has been that good for them.
      Leif Davis (Ipswich)
      The Tractor Boys can also call upon left-back Leif DavisCredit: Getty
      The 23-year-old left-back has been Ipswich’s best player and the Geordie practically owns the left side of the pitch for the Tractor Boys.
      Has nine assists so far this season and is simply scintillating. 
      I was at Elland Road, though, when he had a tough afternoon against his former club Leeds when his side were walloped 4-0.
      However, that was just a bad day at the office. Although he is a full-back, his attacking numbers are higher than most wingers.
      If Ipswich don’t go up, he will surely be in the Premier League next season.
      Stephy Mavididi (Leicester)
      Stephy Mavididi is a key man for Leicester after spells in Italy and FranceCredit: Alamy
      The Foxes are winning the Championship at a canter and one of their star players has been without question the 25-year-old winger who came through the youth system at Arsenal — but ended up going to Juventus and Montpelier to really learn his trade. 
      Did have some EFL experience with loans at Charlton and Preston as well.
      Lots of pace and up near the top of the assists charts, he has been tearing it up in English football’s second tier and does look a cut above many of his opponents.
      Knows where the goal is too — and has nine to his name already this season, including a nice one I saw him score against Southampton at St Mary’s where he ripped them to shreds in an easy 4-1 win.
      With the Foxes flying though, you would think they should be able to keep hold of him as their promotion to the Premier League is all but guaranteed.
      Jaden Philogene (Hull)
      Hull’s Jaden Philogene dreams of winning the Ballon d’OrCredit: Alamy
      Interviewed the winger a couple of months ago and he told me his ambition is to win the Ballon d’Or. 
      What a bold statement. But I like that from a 21-year-old — lots of confidence but also prepared to work hard to reach his goal.
      Ok, he is millions or miles away from that as a Hull player right now — but has has been previously linked with moves to Liverpool, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. 
      Philogene came through the ranks at Aston Villa and many people thought he was going to get a look-in this season — but Unai Emery decided to let him move down into the Championship with Hull.
      But in Liam Rosenior he has a manager who has shown a lot of faith in him and who is giving him lots of game time to develop.
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      I was impressed by his tricky skills and lots of pace when I saw him away at Birmingham — and he scored the decisive second goal.
      He did get injured recently but up to that point he has been key to Hull’s strong start to the season. More

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      Hull City win transfer window with ‘funniest announcement seen’ after sealing signing of Liverpool star

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      FOOTBALL fans heaped praise on Hull after they announced the loan signing of Liverpool’s Fabio Carvalho in hilarious fashion.Carvalho, 21, arrived at Anfield from Fulham in 2022 but spent the first half of this season on loan at RB Leipzig.
      Fabio Carvalho was mocked up as the woman choosing her man on ‘Blind Date’Credit: X / @HullCity
      Hull were made to be the man chosen, while Southampton and Patrick Bamford’s Leeds were left disappointedCredit: X / @HullCity
      He returned to Merseyside at the end of December amid speculation of another loan.
      Several Championship clubs were linked with him including Leicester, Leeds and Southampton.
      But he has opted to join Liam Rosenior’s side until the end of the season – with Hull seventh in the Championship table, just one point adrift of the play-off places.
      And the unveiling of Carvalho left social media in stitches.
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      Hull put together a photo-shopped version of the famous TV programme “Blind Date” which was hosted by Cilla Black.
      The premise of the show was that one person would ask three potential dates a series of questions without seeing them, before eventually choosing one to go out with.
      The edited clip saw Cilla with a Liverpool crest on her head, Carvalho mocked up as the woman choosing the date, and a Hull badge on the person she chose.
      It also contained Leeds and Southampton badges for the two people who had been snubbed by the woman.
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      And at the end of the video, Cilla even says: “How could you turn down Pat?,” as the image of Leeds striker Patrick Bamford storms off set.
      The caption for the post read: “‘His name is Fabio and he’s from Portugal.’
      “‘Come in, Fabio!’ 👋”
      Reacting to the clip, one person said: “Funniest announcement i think I’ve ever seen😂😂😂.”
      Another added: “Content!! This is legendary.”
      A third replied: “This really is wholesome content. You’ve got to be happy with this.”
      While a fourth responded: “As an Ipswich supporter, this is nearing genius… 😂😂fair play lads.” More

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      Baffled fans ask ‘what is he doing’ after spotting ‘overhyped’ Caicedo’s actions in build-up to Middlesbrough goal

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      FOOTIE fans were left baffled by Moises Caicedo’s actions in the build-up to Middlesbrough’s winner against Chelsea.The Premier League big boys suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Championship Boro in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie.
      Hayden Hackney scored the winner in Middlesbrough’s Carabao Cup semi-final clash with ChelseaCredit: GETTY
      Hackney breezed past Moises Caideco in the build-up to the goalCredit: GETTY
      Replays showed Caicedo stopped tracking Hackney and put his hands behind his back before the goal went inCredit: Rex
      Caicedo just let his man get away

      A second-half strike from Hayden Hackney sent the Riverside into a state of pandemonium and saw Michael Carrick’s troops put one foot in next month’s Wembley final.
      Hackney strolled into the box unchallenged and cooly slotted the ball past Djordje Petrovic.
      And replays showed that Caicedo was to blame for the midfielder’s free run at goal.
      The Blues’ club-record signing failed to bust a gut as Boro broke away and made little effort to close the distance between himself and Hackney.
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      And to make matters worse, he stopped shortly after getting into the box and put his hands behind his back before Hackney fired home.
      Blues fans couldn’t believe their eyes after seeing the Ecuador international’s lack of effort, with one saying: “What is Caicedo doing?
      “Just stops following his runner and puts his hands behind his back.”
      Another said: “Bruh gave up real quick.”
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      And another said: “Nahhhh WTF is this about.”
      One remarked: “Caicedo is generally way overhyped.
      “He always takes long breaks in each game walking around and not positioning himself to receive passes.
      “Second time in three games he cost a goal as well because he doesn’t track back.”
      One furious member of the Stamford Bridge faithful said: “How does this player cost that amount of money?
      “He runs around like he’s got cement blocks in his shoes, heavy legs. Overrated player.”
      Chelsea will bid to exact revenge on Boro and reach the first major final of the season in the return leg at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday week.
      Middlesbrough have one foot in the Carabao Cup finalCredit: REX More

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      I’m the Premier League cult hero behind most iconic transfer deadline day moment ever – now I play the guitar on TikTok

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      PETER ODEMWINGIE is best known for his six-year stint in the Premier League – but he’s now serenading fans on social media.The former Nigeria international hung up his boots in April 2019, a year after playing for Indonesian side Madura United.
      Peter Odemwingie spent six years in the Premier LeagueCredit: PA
      The former Nigeria international hung up his boots in April 2019Credit: REUTERS
      Odemwingie now spends his days playing his guitar on TikTokCredit: TIKTOK@ODEMWINGIE1981
      Odemwingie has kept a relatively low profile since calling time on his playing career.
      Although he’s recently built up quite the following on TikTok thanks to his previously unknown musical talent.
      Odemwingie, 42, has amassed nearly 30,000 followers on the popular social media platform doing renditions of popular songs.
      But he’s not just singing them – he’s strumming the chords on his acoustic guitar.
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      The former West Brom, Cardiff and Stoke City ace has posted ten videos of himself singing an array of songs – including Christian rock tunes – to his page.
      His videos have racked up thousands of views, with one even being watched by over 100,000 people.
      Despite becoming a somewhat popular TikTok singer, Odemwingie’s vocal chords won’t trump his success on the pitch.
      He bagged 35 goals in 114 Premier League appearances, although English football fans will forever remember him for his attempts to force through a move to QPR on transfer deadline day.
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      Odemwingie drove to QPR on January transfer deadline day to finalise a move that never came to fruitionCredit: SKY SPORTS
      In January 2013, the then West Brom hitman drove to London to try and seal a move to QPR – although the London club refused the striker entry to Loftus Road.
      Odemwingie was forced to sit outside the stadium and wait in his car for both clubs to reach an agreement, which never came to fruition.
      Recalling the incident to Sky Sports, he said: “Everything seemed agreed, but actually I didn’t know that one of the terms was that they [West Brom] were getting [Junior] Hoilett and [if I had known that] I would have never driven to London
      “Why would I have driven to London in bad weather? It was dark already, it was winter and I had just had a newborn, who was one week old.
      “Why would I leave my wife and my newborn kid to drive to London and wait outside?
      “One thing I would have done [if I had known] is call my friends at QPR and say, ‘Hey guys, can you find out whether Hoilett will actually come to West Brom or not?’
      “That’s what I would have done. But I didn’t have to because I thought it was never a condition that he had to go the other way.
      “I was left there waiting for the agents to tell me what’s next.
      “Then the time was ticking, I had a medical to go through, I obviously had to read the contracts and everything had to be drafted.” More

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      Neil Warnock reveals he fined players £50 for passing to Adel Taarabt and how coach warned Moroccan would get him sacked

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      NEIL WARNOCK has revealed that he would FINE players for passing to Adel Taarabt in their own half.The veteran boss managed Taarabt at Queens Park Rangers.
      Neil Warnock poses with Alejandro Faurlin, left, and Adel Taarabt, right after winning the Championship titleCredit: Action Images – Reuters
      The Moroccan produced one of the all-time great Championship seasonsCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      Warnock, now 75, arrived at Loftus Road in March 2010 and didn’t initially receive a particularly glowing review of the attacking midfielder.
      Recounting the first time he encountered the mercurial Moroccan, Warnock told Peter Crouch on the ex-striker’s podcast: “This is a red hot day and there’s a kid with black gloves on. Black woollen gloves.
      “I said to a member of staff: ‘Who’s that with gloves on?’.
      “The guy says: ‘You don’t want to know him, gaffer. That’s Taarabt. He’s a Moroccan from Tottenham. He’ll get you the sack. He’s already got a manager the sack. Waste of space’.
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      “I watched this game and QPR couldn’t score goals then – that was their problem. So I’m watching this kid and I’ve never seen anything like it. Some of his ability.
      “But what he was doing was getting the ball off the centre-half, nut-megging someone, losing it and them scoring.”
      Taarabt, now 34, first joined QPR on loan in March 2009.
      He played under Paulo Sousa, Jim Magilton, Paul Hart and Mick Harford before Warnock’s arrival the following January.
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      Despite Taarabt’s flaws being clear, Warnock couldn’t help but be impressed by his strengths.
      He added: “You sometimes get gut-feelings as a manager. I just liked him straight away, even with his gloves and all that. He had that little bit of arrogance.
      “So I pulled him over on the pitch and said: ‘Are you cold, Adel? We play West Brom on Saturday, top of the league, my first game. I’m going to play you – understand? And if you’re s****, I’m going to play you the next game. And if you’re s****, I’m going to play you the next game. Do you understand? Because you are going to save us’.”
      Despite holding huge belief in Taarabt, Warnock felt the need to take drastic action in order to mask his weaknesses.
      He added: “So then I got all the other lads, without him, and said: ‘Right, anybody who gives him the ball in our half, it’s a £50 fine’.
      “And I said to Adel: ‘Adel, if you come over the halfway line and pick a ball up, I fine you £50 – okay?’.
      “I think one player passed it to him and we fined him £50, but that was it. You give him the ball in the [opponent’s] half… oh my God.”
      Taarabt went on to produce one of the all-time great Championship campaigns by an individual player in the 2010-11 season.
      Missing just two matches, the former Tottenham youngster scored 19 times, often in spectacular fashion, and laid on 21 assists as his side lifted the title and sealed promotion to the Premier League.
      He went on to play two seasons in the top flight with QPR, before spending the 2013-14 campaign on loan at Fulham and AC Milan.
      Taarabt returned to Loftus Road for the 2014-15 season back in the Prem, but only played seven times.
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      The 30-cap Moroccan joined Benfica before later plying his trade back in Serie A with Genoa.
      He signed for Dubai-based Al-Nasr in 2022, where he still plays to this day.
      The midfielder had joined Spurs alongside the likes of Gareth BaleCredit: AFP
      Taarabt went on to star for BenficaCredit: AFP More

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      Amad Diallo forces famous Man Utd fan page to delete post and apologise after trolling them with ‘stop lying, mate’ post

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      MANCHESTER UNITED winger Amad Diallo has shut down rumours linking him with a loan move to the Championship this month.The 21-year-old returned to Old Trafford in July following a successful season-long loan with Sunderland.
      Amad Diallo has suggested that he will stay at Man Utd this seasonCredit: Alamy
      The 21-year-old shut down rumours linking him with a move to the ChampionshipCredit: X / @Amaddiallo_19
      However, he suffered a knee injury during the club’s pre-season tour and spent the first half of the 2023-24 campaign on the sidelines.
      His lack of minutes have led some Man Utd fans to believe that he will be loaned back to the Championship until the end of the season.
      But Diallo has suggested that he will be staying with the Red Devils for the foreseeable future.
      Responding to a Man Utd fan page that had shared speculation around his future on X, he wrote: “Stop lying mate!”
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      The fan page then replied: “Hi Amad, apologies if the post has been misunderstood.
      “We’re not saying that you’re leaving. We’re just sharing quotes from a former Premier League player who suggested a Championship side could look to make a move for you. That’s why used the word ‘tipped’.
      “As United fans, we would love to see you play and tear it up now that you’ve returned from injury.
      “You can see the context of what we’ve written in the article itself. Hope that clears the situation up. Best regards!”
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      Diallo joined Man Utd in a £37million transfer from Atalanta in 2021 and has since made 10 first team appearances.
      Erik ten Hag is confident that the Ivory Coast international will add a spark to his attacking line-up.
      He said: “Yeah, he is very ball secure. He can bring key actions, final passes, score a goal. And so I think he has some weapons. That is always what you are looking for with offensive players.” More

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      Championship promotion-chasers eye shock transfer swoop for out-of-favour Bournemouth striker Kieffer Moore

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      BOURNEMOUTH star Kieffer Moore has emerged as a shock target for promotion-chasing Sunderland.The Wales No 9 is available and keen to play in the build up to Euro 2024.
      Moore scored last time out against QPRCredit: Getty
      Moore, 31, could head out on loan although the Premier League Cherries would also be prepared to sell.
      The Championship Black Cats are hoping to put a package together for him in order to clinch a quick deal.
      It is a change of direction for Michael Beale’s Sunderland, who have gone without a traditional and experienced centre-forward this season.
      Moore was Wales’ first-choice striker at the World Cup in Qatar but has since fallen out of favour with Spurs’ Brennan Johnson being picked up front instead.
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      The No9 is also well behind Dominic Solanke in terms of selection at Bournemouth so will be desperate to get some minutes out on loan in the hope he can be part of the squad if Wales make it through the play-offs into this summer’s Euros.
      If they miss out on Moore then they may switch their attention to Blackburn’s Sam Gallagher, 28, who is available at the right price.
      Gallagher has a handful of clubs chasing after him despite his injury problems and big wages.
      His current deal runs out in the summer but if he does not leave, then Ewood Park’s Rovers are likely to take up the option on his contract.
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      Sunderland are looking to bounce back from yesterday’s 3-0 defeat to rivals Newcastle in their first Tyne-Wear derby in eight years.
      It was a day to forget for centre-back Dan Ballard who scored an own goal and gave away a penalty as The Magpies cruised to victory. More

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      Wigan won the FA Cup and could have avoided relegation three days later if we’d celebrated properly, says Paul Scharner

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      PAUL SCHARNER is proud to be the only Austrian to have won an FA Cup final.But that glorious day for Wigan at Wembley in 2013 is tinged with deep regret for the former defender.
      Paul Scharner shows off his 2013 FA Cup winners medal and shirt he wore that day against Manchester City at home in Austria
      Austrian ace Paul Scharner proudly holds aloft the FA Cup at Wembley
      That is because Scharner believes then boss Roberto Martinez and owner Dave Whelan’s decision not to let the team celebrate that weekend contributed to their relegation from the Premier League three days later.
      And as a consequence the club have suffered dark days since — going into administration and yo-yo’ing between the Championship and League One.
      Scharner flew home and refused to go on an open-top bus parade with the trophy when the team were finally allowed to enjoy their historic 1-0 win over Manchester City nine days later.
      And the Latics cult hero, now 43, told SunSport: “I was too hurt. Winning the FA Cup was the biggest achievement in Wigan’s history but we had been relegated.
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      “I skipped the bus parade and flew home. I watched the videos later but couldn’t imagine I’d stay on the bus celebrating like we’d won the league.
      “Of course, I missed something because half of Wigan was on the streets celebrating but I couldn’t throw away my sad emotions and celebrate like we’d only had success.”
      Wigan celebrate winning the FA Cup with boss Roberto Martinez
      It had been a bizarre sequence of events caused by the FA Cup final being played one week before the domestic league season finished.
      Wigan, who host Manchster United in the third round on Monday night, had written one of the most glorious chapters in FA Cup history after Ben Watson’s injury-time winner stunned Roberto Mancini’s Premier League champions.
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      But they had to win at Arsenal in their penultimate game of the season three nights later or drop into the Championship.
      So the decision was made for Martinez and his players to travel home by coach that evening with alcohol banned so champagne was replaced by Lucozade.
      We should’ve had a big celebration until Sunday evening before starting preparations on Monday.It would’ve brought more energy for the Arsenal matchPAUL SCHARNER
      And Scharner recalled: “Dave Whelan came into the dressing room after the game and said, ‘Congratulations, boys  — but we need to concentrate on Tuesday.’
      “We’d made history for Wigan and pulled off one of the biggest cup final shocks.
      “It was the same with Martinez, ‘The focus must be on Arsenal.’
      “But looking back, had I been the manager, I’d have stayed in London and not travelled back until after the Arsenal game on Tuesday.
      “We should’ve had a big celebration until Sunday evening before starting preparations on Monday. 
      “It would’ve brought more energy for the Arsenal match. When you’re in this unbelievably happy moment after such a big win, you must focus on the emotions and keep the energy you had on the pitch on Saturday because we’d won the FA Cup. 
      “I don’t think it was the best decision to go back to Wigan with no celebration.”
      The team, having travelled home with the flattest celebration ever, then had to come all the way back to North London a couple of days later.
      And despite a spirited first-half performance Wigan were thumped 4-1 by the Gunners.
      Wigan were relegated from the Premier League at Arsenal three days after the biggest win of their history
      Scharner sighed: “Theo Walcott killed us in the second half. It was difficult for me because one of the main targets I had in my career was never to have a relegation on my CV.
      “All the things that have happened to the club since were a consequence of that season.”
      The Austrian was on loan for the second half of the FA Cup-winning season from Hamburg to help Martinez shore up his leaky defence — but he had previously enjoyed four seasons at the club from 2006 to 2010.
      And he believes Wigan never fully fulfilled their potential when they were in the top-flight because Whelan was not ambitious enough.
      Scharner points to the 2008-09 season when the club were flying high under Steve Bruce and sitting sixth halfway through the season with European football a realistic target.
      He said: “Whelan was so happy with Premier League status. He only looked at that.
      David Whelan was not ambitious about European football and sold his best players
      “He didn’t grow his target and that’s why Wigan stopped developing.
      “A good example was in 2008-09 when we were sixth after Christmas and he sold Emile Heskey and Wilson Palacios, our main players, during the January transfer window to Aston Villa and Tottenham.
      “And that is because Whelan wasn’t interested in Wigan playing European football. I can tell you now: we had definite potential at that time to compete in the top third of the table.”
      Scharner revealed the mental pressure made him feel ill on the morning of the final — and he added: “During the game, my body temperature skyrocketed but I couldn’t stop because I wanted to win the trophy.
      “I was near to having some tears when walking out. You cannot allow emotions to overwhelm you but also need to keep some for on the pitch.
      “During my career, I set up two or three special mental tricks to stop it. One was to put a stop sign in my mind to immediately stop negative thoughts.”
      Scharner, famed for his wacky haircuts and dress sense, never played senior football again after Wigan’s final game in 2013 against Aston Villa — deciding to retire after failing to get a look-in when he returned to Hamburg.
      The Austrian now runs his own business called “Lighthouse – Partners for Life” where he works as a “personal coach”. 
      He said: “I help young players learn what it takes to become a pro — not just on the pitch but lifestyle things and the mental side of the game.”
      Paul Scharner returned to Wigan for a special 10th anniversary event including a charity football match
      Scharner returned to Wigan last year for a special 10th anniversary gala and charity football match as well as reacquainting himself with former team-mate and current Latics boss Shaun Maloney.
      And the Austrian believes the new owners  and investors led by local businessman Mike Danson have started a brighter chapter for the club.
      He said: “Hopefully, their finances have stabilised for the next decade to focus on promotion again at least to the Championship. Wigan is definitely a Championship team and one that sometimes can go for promotion to the Premier League. 
      Wigan heroes support Joseph’s Goal charityPAUL SCHARNER and the Wigan’s 2013 FA Cup heroes support a family-charity called Joseph’s Goal.
      Formed in 2012 , it helps fund research into the rare genetic disorder NKH. Joseph Kendrick was Wigan Athletic’s lucky mascot at the 2013 FA Cup final. He was given days to live after being born but is now 14 and an inspiration for everything. There’s an annual legends game at Wigan which Scharner, Roberto Martinez, Shaun Maloney, Antonio Valencia and Bryan Robson have played in.

      “Because of the foreign investors they had for the last couple of years, they’re now happy to have Wigan-based ones that belong to the heritage. 
      “And the club has created with their past players a group where we can always communicate, and we are always invited to the home games.
      “It’s vital for a club like Wigan to build some heritage and get some support for their long-term success.”
      I threw away my cup losers medal – then got a Christmas card from fan who caught it
      WIGAN legend Paul Scharner threw his League Cup runners-up medal away after losing to Manchester United in the 2006 final.
      United thumped the Latics 4-0 at the Millennium Stadium and so Scharner was so cross he threw his medal into the crowd.
      And he said: “I was so disappointed with the set-plays that I threw my medal away. 
      “The final was in February but what was funny is that I got a Christmas card later that year from a Wigan fan who caught the medal. 
      “I got a big thank you and it was written like it was the best day of his life!”
      Wigan could well be excused for losing by a similar scoreline on Monday night in the FA Cup against a United team two divisions above them.
      Read more on The Sun
      But Scharner believes United can be beaten.
      He said: “I guess they will rest some players for the Premier League game and there’s an opportunity to win the game and surprise many people. Let’s hope so.” More