Cup defeat emotional for Sorensen

Last updated : 15 May 2011 By BBC Sport

Stoke City goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen has admitted that he shed tears in the dressing room after losing 1-0 to Manchester City in the FA Cup final."I wanted it so bad and I don't know if this is going to be my only chance," the 34-year-old told BBC Radio Stoke.

"Hopefully not, but you never know. That's why I had a few tears in my eyes at the end of the game."

Yaya Toure scored the only goal at Wembley to give Manchester City their first major trophy for 35 years.

Stoke were appearing in the FA Cup final for the first time in their 148-year history and went into the game in good form, having gone unbeaten since their

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5-0 semi-final victory over Bolton

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

on 17 April.

However, Sorensen and manager Tony Pulis said the team were a little below-par on their return to Wembley.

 

 

"I don't think we hit the heights of what we did against Bolton or what we've done lately," said the Denmark international, who made a series of excellent saves in the first half to keep the score at 0-0.

"We struggled in the first half, but as the game wore on, I thought it was going to be our day.

"Kenwyne [Jones] had a great chance, Joe Hart made a great save, and at a time when I thought we could go and snatch it, they scored.

"We came here to win because it's been a long time coming for the club and it's been a long time coming for me.

"You don't get these chances very often so it's obviously bitterly disappointing."

Stoke boss Pulis said: "The levels of performances over the last five or six weeks have been brilliant and we've not reached that level.

 

 

"When you come to a final, it's on the day, and the players will be the first to say that they never reached that level.

"On reflection, what a season we've had. We've retained Premier League status for a fourth consecutive year, we've got to an FA Cup final and we've got Europe to look forward to next year. It's not bad for Stoke City."

Winger Jermaine Pennant praised the 28,000 Stoke fans that made the trip to Wembley and stayed to watch Manchester City captain Carlos Tevez lift the trophy at the end of the game.

Jermaine Pennant is consoled by injured team-mate Ricardo Fuller"The atmosphere was great," said Pennant. "Even when we went a goal down, our fans didn't stop singing and getting behind us.

"Even at full time, when we knew we'd definitely lost it, they still kept going. That just shows how much faith and how much loyalty our fans have in us."

Matthew Etherington (hamstring) and Robert Huth (knee) were major fitness worries for the Potters ahead of the final.

Both players started the match, although Etherington was replaced by Dean Whitehead just after the hour mark.

"Matty and Robert wanted to play and we wanted them to play," added Pulis, who was hoping to become the second manager after Tony Waddington to lead Stoke to a major trophy.

"You always take a chance when it's like that.

"Robert was outstanding at the back and Matty did smashing. The last ball he played got Kenwyne in for that chance, but he was starting to tire.

 

 

"We've taken a chance with both of them and they've done smashing."

Stoke have a chance to gain revenge against City when they meet in the Premier League at Eastlands on Tuesday.

The Potters are eighth in the table before Sunday's fixtures and on course to register a top-half finish for the first time since

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

winning promotion back to the top flight in May 2008.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport