21 February 2005    
Neil Webb on The FA Cup - Exclusive

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Webb won 26 caps for England in a glittering career which was spent in the main at Nottingham Forest and Manchester United and the midfielder was in Soho Square today to make the draw for the Sixth Round of The FA Cup.

"It's an open draw, it really has opened out," Webb says. "Manchester United away from home has certainly helped - it gives it a bit of an edge. It could make for an interesting Semi Finals."

Despite the presence of Arsenal and Newcastle United, Webb believes his old club Manchester United are the current favourites to lift the trophy in May.

"At the moment you've got to say Manchester United. They struggled against Exeter but went down there and did a professional job. You've got to put them as favourites."

Webb signed for Sir Alex Ferguson's side back in June 1989 and went on to make 75 League appearances for the Old Trafford club.

As a former Cup-winner with the club, he is in a good position to give an insight into the manager's way of thinking when it comes to the world's oldest domestic Cup competition.

"He would have liked a home draw but will fully expect United to win that game," Webb says.

"If it's Southampton, he knows them inside out and it will be just like playing them in the league [and if it's] Brentford then someone will be at the replay.

"He knows what to expect from lower league teams and what the conditions are like. It will be a pressure game so he'll be going through it thoroughly and making sure that his side will be mentally prepared."

Webb says that the United manager is no stranger to tricky away days in The Cup and can still remember a match against Hereford United from 15 years ago.

"Well when I was there in '90 we played away against Hereford, Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest. At Hereford it was raining, the pitch was mud bath but we got a 1-0 victory and did enough to get through. He's very professional about the job."

"[Manchester United] want to hold on to it. They've never held on to it so Ferguson would like to do that."

Another of Webb's former clubs - Nottingham Forest - are also in the draw after they grabbed a 1-1 draw away to Tottenham Hotspur in a replay of the 1991 FA Cup Final.

Webb continued: "Hopefully they can get through but I haven't done them any favours. Now they've got a replay they'll want to get past Tottenham and go to Newcastle."

One of the best FA Cup Finals of recent years was United's amazing win over Crystal Palace in 1990 and for Webb, the two matches of that Final still represent one of the pinnacles of his career.

"I played in two Cup Finals because we had a replay. The Saturday afternoon was a typical Wembley afternoon - boiling hot, extra time, everyone on their knees and a 3-3 draw.

"We got a replay on the Thursday night and we won 1-0. That was a special moment in my career and something I'll always cherish."