Michael Flynn keen to emulate Newport FA Cup heroics at Walsall
Michael Flynn's thoughts with this season's FA Cup will be firmly on the home game with Carlisle United later this month- but he will never forget the day as a manager he came up against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City team.
Flynn was managing Newport County three years ago and enjoyed a memorable and fruitful run to the fifth round of the competition, which started in the first at the unlikely surroundings of Metropolitan Police.
After winning that game 2-0, Newport would go on to beat Wrexham, Leicester City and Middlesbrough after a replay to draw City at home in front of a sell out crowd at Rodney Parade.
They lost 4-1 on the day against n almost full strength City team and although disappointed to lose, Flynn said it was a day he would never forget.
He said: "The team he played and the squad he brought shows the respect of the man.
"Many Premier League teams would put out youngsters and reserves, and to be fair even if they had it would have been a tall order to beat them - but not Pep.
"I have a lot of time for him and we keep in contact. He's somebody who will always be there if I need him for advice or a chat.
"He's somebody I have the utmost respect for, him and Jurgen Klopp have raised the bar for managers around the world, not just in England.
"The magic of the FA Cup will always be there for me, to get a tie like that at our level can go a long way to boost the coffers of the club, pay bills and keep the place running for the long term and I hope I can provide that for Walsall."
