Paul Heckingbottom has previewed Preston North End's FA Cup quarter-final with Aston Villa
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Preston North End's manager Paul Heckingbottom
Preston North End's manager Paul Heckingbottom(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom is relishing the chance to cause a major FA Cup upset this weekend as his side hosts Aston Villa in the quarter-finals.
More than 5,600 Villa fans will descend on Deepdale this Sunday, hoping to see Unai Emery’s men book their place at Wembley as the club targets its first trophy in 29 years.
Preston manager Heckingbottom, meanwhile, is happy to embrace the underdog role and has urged his players to be “on the front foot” from the start.
“Everyone is really on board with this. We had Fulham in the League Cup and Arsenal, and now we’re welcoming Aston Villa,” Heckingbottom told talkSPORT. “These cup games are for us to enjoy.
“Obviously, we have to go all out to try and win the game. They’re here for us to relish amid the slog of the Championship season.
“Our recent history hasn’t been at the top end of English football, but in the past, the club very much was.
“We are one game away from Wembley. If we win away against Derby on Wednesday night, we get three points, but if we manage to overturn Villa, it’s a totally different story.
“A trip to Wembley and an FA Cup semi-final doesn’t come around often. This week has taken care of itself — everyone is looking forward to it and excited for it.”
Preston North End have been hard to beat at home this season
Preston North End have been hard to beat at home this season(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
Heckingbottom added: “We want to be on the front foot and put pressure on Villa. Depending on which team Unai picks, especially at the top of the pitch, it will determine how they build.
“We are guessing to some extent — a lot of the preparation will be focused on ourselves.
“We’ve also suffered a lot, with four players ineligible due to either previous cup games or suspensions. We also have a few injuries at the moment. We’ll see the XI that Villa put out and then we’ll be prepared.
“One of the reasons Kaine Kesler can’t play is because his parent club is Aston Villa. It’s a little bittersweet for him — a bit of a sickener, really.
“Any XI Villa puts out at the minute is unbelievably strong. I think it reflects how Villa has strengthened with every window.
“They recruited extremely well in January, and I don’t see them fielding a weak team against Preston.
“They will see this as being just a couple of games away from their first piece of silverware in a long time — and Unai’s first with the club.”
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