We won’t sit back says bold Dickov
Reporter: Matthew Chambers
Date published: 06 January 2012
PAUL Dickov has called on his players to absorb and enjoy every part of the Anfield experience tonight.
Athletic's manager promised to defy those who feel he should set his side out defensively, instead adopting a game-plan which is based around attacking the opposition as much as shutting them out.
Dickov wants Athletic to express themselves, in spite of any nerves that may spring up as a result of playing in front of a packed ground against top-flight opposition in Liverpool.
And the Scot will himself need to overcome the jitters that afflicted him on his first meeting with opposition manager Kenny Dalglish.
"He was a massive hero of mine as a boy," said Dickov, speaking at a packed press conference ahead of the big third-round tie.
"I met him as a young kid at Arsenal, when I was 16. I couldn't even talk to him!
"Away from everything else, just to stand there with him in the opposite dug-out to me will make it a proud occasion for me.
"There will be a lot of respect there, of course, but I don't want the occasion to get the better of the players.
"A lot of them haven't played in that sort of an arena.
"I desperately don't want it to pass them by. Regardless of the result, I want them to give it everything.
"I have played in big games and I know you can get carried away with the occasion and before you know it, the game has finished.
"I want all the players to remember every single minute for the rest of their careers and to take it with them."
Athletic are rank outsiders, but have one happy FA Cup experience on Merseyside in recent memory as Gary McDonald's stunner saw off Everton four years ago.
Dickov isn't promising a repeat performance, but does insist Athletic will attack the Premier League side.
"I am not going to sit and say that we are going to go to Liverpool and win because they would probably take me away in a straitjacket," added the Athletic boss.
"One thing we will do is, go there and have a right good go.
"People have asked me if I am going to change the system — pack the midfield out and sit back.
"I don't want that. I want my players to go there and enjoy it, play as they do in training and in games, and as always we will have a chance if we do the basics right.
"We want to go there and play good, attacking football."
"And in every single round of the FA Cup, there is a shock."
