Benali: I know for a fact that our supporters will create a very special atmosphere

A TRIP to Wembley, whether you’re a player, staff or a supporter, is always very special, and Saints find themselves in that position again.

I for one cannot wait to step out and see that mass of yellow and blue, because I know exactly how Saints supporters are and how well they have backed the team - not just in recent years, but going all the way back.

I still think about the 2003 FA Cup final in Cardiff. The memory of the supporters that day, how they backed the team, and the colours we saw from the pitch and around the stadium, is one of the most incredible things that has stayed with me.

Those moments don’t leave you. They are what football is all about.

But this time, we go into it against probably one of the best teams in the world, so there is no getting away from the size of the task ahead. It’s going to be huge.

There are also questions around availability, with suspensions and injuries affecting the group, so the line-up could look a bit different to what it might have been if everyone was fit.

That’s just part of football. Whoever is out there on the pitch is going to have to play to the very best of their ability to beat whatever Manchester City side turns up on the day, and we will have to be at our absolute best.

I know for a fact the supporters will do their bit. They always do. They will create a very special atmosphere and hopefully it’s one we come out on the right side of.

We’ve had a couple of semi-final appearances in recent times - Chelsea and Leicester - and sadly we didn’t quite get through to the final. So maybe this is third time lucky. That’s certainly the hope.

Looking back to 2003, even before the final, the semi-final itself was a brilliant day. It wasn’t at Wembley in those days, it was at Villa Park against Watford, and it was a fantastic occasion. Being part of that squad, the belief in the dressing room throughout that run was incredible.

Personally, I played a small part in the run, including the two Millwall ties, and it was everything you would want it to be - the build-up, the games, the feeling around the club.

The only downside, of course, was not winning the trophy in the end. That’s what this current group has the opportunity to change. They have the chance to go one better.

This could also be the start of a really big month for the club. It’s not just about this semi-final. There’s potentially a Wembley final to come, depending on the result, and then depending on how things go in the league, there could even be play-off games and another trip to Wembley for a final there as well.

There is so much still to play for, but the focus has to be on today. That’s the most important thing.

The message is simple really - go there and enjoy it, but go there and give your best. Whether you’re a player or a supporter, everyone has a part to play.

You have to go into these games believing that you can win them. What’s the point of going otherwise? That belief is everything.

Yes, there will be pressure, there will be difficult moments in the game, but that’s what football is all about. It’s about dealing with those moments and finding a way through them.

If you want to be successful, if you want to win trophies, you have to overcome those challenges.

I’ll be travelling up with a number of Saints supporters in the morning on one of the coaches, which is always a great experience. I did it earlier in the season for the trip to Sheffield United and it was a brilliant day all round.

There’s something special about being among the fans on those journeys, feeling the anticipation build, sharing the stories and the excitement. That’s what days like this are all about.

When we get to Wembley, I’ll be in and around the hospitality areas, speaking with guests, and hopefully seeing plenty of Saints fans before taking my seat.

I genuinely can’t wait to experience what the day has in store.

To everyone making the journey, I hope it’s a safe one. Enjoy every moment of it, because these are the occasions you remember. And let’s hope that by tomorrow night we’re all talking about a memorable win against Man City and a place in the FA Cup final.

That would be something very special indeed.