THE notion of contesting a national cup final in a claret and amber strip is not an alien concept to Carl McHugh. Yesterday the Irishman was resplendent in the iconic colours, his eyes glancing around an empty Hampden Park, visualising the scene come Sunday when the Motherwell captain meets Rangers in a bid to get to the Betfred Cup showpiece on November 26.
Four years ago, it was the Lanarkshire side’s claret and amber cousins Bradford City McHugh last adorned the colour scheme synonymous with these two clubs alone. It was a story of heroism and fantasy that delivered the then youngster to the Capital One Cup final, even if the final itself turned into disaster.
McHugh was part of a Bradford side that beat Wigan Athletic, Arsenal on penalties in the quarter-finals before edging Aston Villa over two legs in the semis 4-3, with the Irishman’s late strike in the first leg proving crucial. The fact it ended in a 6-0 drubbing from Swansea City in front of half of his hometown was the only snag.
Listen: Herald Sport podcast: Who will reach the Betfred Cup final?
For all the Wembley woe, it still stands as a career highlight and a journey which has stuck with the 24-year-old as he attempts to take a trip down the path of legends and secure the League Cup for only the second time in Motherwell’s history.
“I took a lot of fans to the game, I think half of Donegal were there,” he said. “I was a buy man for the week leading up to the game. It was great for me and my family that everyone managed to get over for the game.
“It was a few years ago now and ideally I want to win a cup now.
“It was a magical run, we beat Arsenal and Aston Villa over two legs. I don’t think it’ll be as big a shock on Sunday if we win.
“It was brilliant and something I will always have with me throughout my career but I’d like to go one step further this time and win the cup.
“I scored in the semi-final first leg so that was absolutely brilliant.
“It’s a short career and you don’t get may opportunities like this that often.
“Your career flashes before you, i am 24-years-old now and it feels like ten minutes ago that I was a 16 year old. It goes so quick but I don’t think it adds to the pressure as we are really looking forward to it and we have worked hard to get to this stage of the cup.”
If Motherwell get the better of Rangers to face either Hibernian or Celtic next month, it won’t quite be the same level of shock as giant-killing Bradford. Having said that, the prospect would have raised more than an eyebrow and a giggle if asked at the start of the season.
Motherwell only survived the threat of relegation in the closing week of the Premiership season last time out and kicked off their Betfred Cup at Hampden just over a month later with a overhauled squad and belief system as they battered Queen’s Park 5-1. From that moment on, McHugh admits a dream was born.
“That day against Queens Park we wanted to set down a marker to start the seasons well,” said the Motherwell captain. We did say at that time that we wanted to be back at Hampden.
Read more: Rangers defender Bruno Alves targets Hampden glory to add to his career medal haul
“We wanted to get through the group stage and see where it takes us.
“We have no fear of playing Rangers. The first 20 minutes of the first game of the season was as poor as we have been this season but we still could definitely taken something out of the game.
“We are focused on ourselves and on our performance so there’s no fear in our dressing room.”
What does exist in the Fir Park dressing room is a grievance at the dismissal of their chances going into the game from outside, and manager Stephen Robinson said yesterday that slights against them, such as the BT Sport advert this week that had his own side’s and Hibs’ names in small print beside Rangers and Celtic emblazoned in massive lettering, have only served to put further fire in Fir Park bellies.
“I don’t think there’s too many people want ourselves or Hibs in the final by the looks of it, so it’s up to us to change that,” said Robinson, with a wry chuckle.
“If it means there’s an extra motivation for our players then brilliant. I don’t think our players need too much motivation though to go and prove people wrong.
“We’ll let other people make assumptions and write us off, relegate us and make finals up that haven’t happened. Let them do that, we’ll just continue doing what we’re doing.”
Listen: Herald Sport podcast: Who will reach the Betfred Cup final?
Robinson is honest enough to admit that there is a huge gap between the sides off the pitch, but there will be no inferiority complex where it matters come Sunday afternoon.
“The imbalance is huge, but what you have to remember is that it is only eleven players that take to the pitch,” he said.
“We’re not playing against the Rangers badge, we’re not playing against Graeme Souness and Ally McCoist.
“We’re playing against those 11 Rangers players at this moment in time, and when it comes down to it, whoever produces the best performances will win.
“In terms of crowds and getting to finals, we all know Rangers are miles ahead of Motherwell, but in terms of Sunday, there won’t be a vast gap between the two outfits.”
Download and listen to the latest Herald Sport podcast on iTunes and PodBean. This week special guest Tam McManus joins the Herald Sport team to preview the Betfred Cup semi-finals.
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