Source: Eurosport
Baines Seeks More Wembley Delight
Leighton Baines recalls the last time Everton beat Manchester United at Wembley - because it was the longest coach ride of his young life.
Everton's full-back was just 10 way back in 1995, and part of the club's schoolboy set-up.
And when Everton got through to the '95 FA Cup Final, the Toffees took every single kid on their books to Wembley for the day.
For Liverpool-born Baines, still at primary school, it was a great adventure and the perfect result with a 1-0 win bringing the Cup back to Goodison Park.
Now Baines has his own chance to make dreams come true for a new generation of young Everton fans, if he can help the Toffees defeat United again in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final at the new Wembley and reach their first final since '95.
He says: "The thing that really sticks in my mind about that day back in '95 was the longest coach journey of my young life.
"I just felt like it went on for ever, London seemed so far away for a youngster like me at the time."
He added: "I'd never travelled so far then, certainly not on my own like that without my parents.
"Then I was in Everton's schoolboy set-up and they packed us all onto coaches, all the kids, and took us to Wembley. I was in the under-10s at the time and it was a real adventure for us all.
"It was a great day out for us kids, and it was a great victory for Everton over United that day. Hopefully we can repeat that now."
Baines didn't make the grade then with Everton, and went off to join Wigan where he made his senior debut as a 17 year-old, before finally rejoining his boyhood club in 2007 for £6m.
And he now sees similarities between the Everton of 14 years ago and the one that boss David Moyes will lead into the Wembley turf on Sunday.
Baines said: "That side went into the final as underdogs, and it will be the same for us in this semi-final.
"But I feel there is less pressure on us. We know it is possible to beat Manchester United and they will have had a difficult build-up to the match with a tiring away Champions League game this week to contend with.
"It has been a long time for Everton fans since they last experienced something like this. There is still some of the slightly older fans who will remember the glory days, but I have got friends who are season ticket holders who have never seen anything like this.
"I just hope we can get them there, to the final. I never imagined when I was 10 that I would one day be involved in a game like this at Wembley against Manchester United, so I want to get to a final too."
But to do that Everton will have to suppress the glittering talents of Cristiano Ronaldo, fresh from his wonder goal against Porto that sent United into another Champions League semi-final.
Baines, at left-back, could find himself confronting Ronaldo too often for his liking.
He said: "I don't know whether I will be facing Ronaldo. He tends to switch from wing to wing and the last time we played them he was on their left, a long way from me.
"But United do that. Their players change positions all the time. Their forwards, such intelligent footballers, just go out and play off each other.
"But whoever it is, you know you will be facing a top class player, be it Ronaldo or any of them.
"Some say he doesn't like a tackle. But he's far more physical than people give him credit for. He's a big, strong lad and hard to play against.
"If you can get about him, that can help. But there is no point thinking of ways to wind him up because he is such a good professional, whatever people say, and on song he is virtually unstoppable.
"They have players like him and Wayne Rooney who play with their hearts on their sleeve. They are a tough side because they care so much.
"But hopefully they will have a reaction from their big midweek game, which is not the best preparation for a semi-final so hopefully we can catch them out a bit."
