Brighton keeper relishing 'opportunity to do something special' against Manchester City in FA Cup semis

Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Mathew Ryan is relishing the test that Manchester City will offer after the Seagulls were drawn against the Premier League title-chasers in the FA Cup semi-finals.
Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Mathew Ryan (right). Picture courtesy of Getty Images.Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Mathew Ryan (right). Picture courtesy of Getty Images.
Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Mathew Ryan (right). Picture courtesy of Getty Images.

Pep Guardiola's side are currently in the running to pick up an unprecedented quadruple after winning the Carabao Cup in February, and advancing to the FA Cup semis - to be played at Wembley on April 6, 5:30pm kick-off - and quarters of the Champions League.

City sit second in the Premier League, with a game in hand over table-topping Liverpool, and have smashed 79 goals in 30 league games this season.

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With the Sky Blues in insatiable form, Ryan is eagerly awaiting the opportunity to face off against arguably the best club team in the world.

He said: "They're obviously a great team. They've got a number of (great) players, I don't need to sit here and tell you about that.

"I play the game to try and create as many lifelong memories as I can through being successful.

"The bigger the challenge the better the memory. To be 2-0 down with five minutes to play (against Millwall in the quarter-finals), coming out with the victory just makes it all the more sweeter.

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"With Manchester City being the next challenge now, the pinnacle of the game at the minute, it's going to be a challenge we're all looking forward to.

"We would much rather be in this situation than out of the cup and not playing in the Premier League."

The Australian feels all the pressure will be on Guardiola's team to make the showcase occasion on May 18, and says the tie is a chance for Albion 'to do something special'.

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He added "When you come up against a big team like that I think every game is a little bit like that.

"The pressure is on the big side to come out and walk us off the park. It's what everyone expects to happen.

"In sport quite often the underdog can make a game of it and we saw that with Swansea in their match against them.

"We're going to do everything we can, focussing on our ourselves.

"There's no shying away from the fact that we're going to have a tough task at hand but it'll be an opportunity to do something special."