Cahill desperate for FA Cup success with Chelsea

Gary Cahill may have won it all in a Chelsea shirt, but after missing out on the final in 2012’s FA Cup success, the on-field skipper admits this year’s Wembley showpiece means even more to him.

The 31-year-old England centre-back won his only FA Cup winner’s medal five seasons ago, as the Blues beat Liverpool 2-1 in the final – Ramires and Didier Drogba grabbing the goals.

While he was able to celebrate with his teammates, Cahill and current defensive partner David Luiz were both sidelined that day in a bid to be fully fit for the Champions League final.

And despite lifting Europe’s top prize in Munich the following week as Chelsea beat Bayern on penalties, Cahill still looks back on that glorious day at Wembley with some regrets and wants to lift the trophy again by beating London rivals Arsenal on Saturday.

“I have been fortunate enough to have all the trophies in England, but [the FA Cup] is the one I have wanted to do again for the obvious reason I would have loved to have played in the final,” he said.

“The FA Cup means a lot to me, 100 per cent. I don’t know why people talk about it as if the shine has gone off it.

“For me it is the big cup competition in England and it always has been since I have been a kid, the one that everyone wants to get to and everyone wants to win, the one everyone watches as a kid so there is no shine off it for me. It is still huge.

“I cannot remember watching a cup final when it has not been a nice day so hopefully it will be the same.

“It is all teed up to be a great game – two big-name clubs going head-to-head. Arsenal have a big reputation in this competition in the past few years and there is no motivation needed.

“It is a cup final and we are preparing well this week to be ready for that, and we hope we can finish the season on a high.”