Source: Northern_Echo
Cana wants to repeat his French cup success
LORIK CANA feels Sunderland have every right to set their sights on reaching an FA Cup final this season and feels winning trophies would be a far greater achievement than qualifying for Europe.[LNB] Cana might have only been in England for six months, but he has quickly realised that cup football here has greater pull than it does on the continent.[LNB] The Sunderland captain is intent on making sure progress in the FA Cup continues, having been handed a fourth round tie at either Portsmouth or Coventry following Saturday's routine win over non-league Barrow.[LNB] There are hopes the victory will boost confidence after a seven-match winless run which led to Sunderland dropping down to tenth in the Premier League ahead of this Saturday's visit of Bolton.[LNB] While confident there can be a turnaround in fortunes in the league as they look to climb up towards the top six, Cana also insists he would rather win the FA Cup than finish in a UEFA Cup spot.[LNB] Winning a trophy is far more important than playing in Europe as a footballer, said Cana. But if you can do everything that is even better.[LNB] Sometimes at the end of your career, when you are sat looking back, it's nice to have reached the final and played in Europe. But it would be even more special to win a trophy.[LNB] While in France the 26-yearold won the French Cup as well as finishing second in Ligue 1 during his days with Paris St Germain before heading for Marseille in 2005.[LNB] The French Cup might not enjoy the same bond with football supporters in France, but Cana still looks back on that triumph with fondness.[LNB] Six years on, the Albanian has his heart set on repeating PSG's cup heroics with Sunderland and fulfilling an ambition to play at Wembley in the process.[LNB] I can say I watched the Premier League during my time in France and that was the all important league for me, but I'm also aware of the importance of the FA Cup in this country, said Cana.[LNB] In France the cup is important but not as important as it is in England. In Germany, Spain, Italy, the cups are not major trophies, but it's something different here. You can enjoy the fact that you are up against smaller teams, big teams, it's special.[LNB] At Sunderland we have a team that can go far in this competition, the draw along the way will be important. I know all about 1973 being the last time Sunderland won anything.[LNB] We have to keep focused on the league, but going as far as we possibly can in the FA Cup is a big deal to this club. It would be fantastic to reach the final.[LNB] I have never played at Wembley. I won the cup in France, so why not try to win the final with Sunderland. We are in the top half of the Premier League so we have the quality to win the FA Cup.[LNB] Cana played at the heart of the defence against Barrow amid an injury crisis, but he was encouraged by further impressive displays from two of Sunderland's young guns.[LNB] Both Jordan Henderson and David Meyler with a combined age of 39 performed admirably against an energetic midfield.[LNB] It was not the first time we have seen Jordan and Meyler,[LNB] said Cana. They have both done very well in the last two weeks, so we know we have players capable of stepping up to the level to play in our team, which will keep everyone on their toes.[LNB] Sunderland, meanwhile, have confirmed John Mensah will be on Wearside this month instead of heading on African Cup of Nations duty with Ghana in Angola.[LNB] Mensah, 27, returned to the North-East yesterday having failed to convince coach Milovan Rajevac that he could recover from the calf injury sustained at Blackburn.[LNB]
