Birmingham City goalkeeper Ben Foster will lead the celebrations should the Blues triumph over Arsenal and win the League Cup today - and has revealed the secrets behind his magical iPod save in the final of the same competition two years ago.
The England international was a League Cup winner with his previous club Manchester United in 2009, saving Jamie O’Hara’s penalty after watching a research video of the Tottenham penalty-takers on an iPod moments before the shoot-out began at Wembley.
"The media guy at United used to give it to me the night before a game just to let me look at set-pieces and things like that," said Foster to The News of the World.
"He had it in his pocket and he passed it on to me.
"It had all the penalties on it and I could see how they run up or place a ball. You can grasp something from it.
"It helped and I have looked at how Arsenal take their penalties the same way."
However, Foster reiterated his desire to celebrate victory this time, should Birmingham beat the Gunners.
"There was nothing in way of a celebration after winning the Carling Cup [with United], absolutely nothing. It was straight on the train, go home, training the next day," said Foster according to The Daily Mail.
"All the other lads bought into how things were done. It was mad, a different world. I was the only one thinking, 'Jeez, this is worth celebrating'. It won’t be the same here if we win. God, no. If we win the cup, we’ll be celebrating!"
Many thought Ben Foster would represent a new goalkeeping era at Manchester United with current ‘keeper Edwin Van der Sar soon set to retire, but the 27-year-old only lasted another 11 Premier League games before opting for a £6 million move to Birmingham.
"You are expected to get to cup finals and big events every single season at United," said Foster.
"I didn’t care about leaving United, to be honest.
"People said I was leaving the biggest club in the world but I just wanted to enjoy my football."
Fostercited the intense atmosphere surrounding Old Trafford, and spoke of his discontent.
"It was win at all costs. If you draw, it is the end of the world. Even if you win 1-0, people think you should be thumping teams 5-0. It was too much, ridiculous," stated the England 'keeper.
"Even training was intense. You’d see tackles flying in and scuffles all the time in practice matches. It would mean everything to players like Gary Neville. That’s the way he was and why he has been so successful.
"I’d like to look back at things I’ve won, but in my life that’s not the main thing. My family and kids are.
"I switch off when I’m not playing or training. I love to win, but United is another step up the ladder of mental toughness and the feeling that winning is everything."
Join us Live! here at Goal.com UK from 15:30, when Birmingham take on Arsenal in the Carling Cup final at Wembley.
The England international was a League Cup winner with his previous club Manchester United in 2009, saving Jamie O’Hara’s penalty after watching a research video of the Tottenham penalty-takers on an iPod moments before the shoot-out began at Wembley.
"The media guy at United used to give it to me the night before a game just to let me look at set-pieces and things like that," said Foster to The News of the World.
"He had it in his pocket and he passed it on to me.
"It had all the penalties on it and I could see how they run up or place a ball. You can grasp something from it.
"It helped and I have looked at how Arsenal take their penalties the same way."
However, Foster reiterated his desire to celebrate victory this time, should Birmingham beat the Gunners.
"There was nothing in way of a celebration after winning the Carling Cup [with United], absolutely nothing. It was straight on the train, go home, training the next day," said Foster according to The Daily Mail.
"All the other lads bought into how things were done. It was mad, a different world. I was the only one thinking, 'Jeez, this is worth celebrating'. It won’t be the same here if we win. God, no. If we win the cup, we’ll be celebrating!"
Many thought Ben Foster would represent a new goalkeeping era at Manchester United with current ‘keeper Edwin Van der Sar soon set to retire, but the 27-year-old only lasted another 11 Premier League games before opting for a £6 million move to Birmingham.
"You are expected to get to cup finals and big events every single season at United," said Foster.
"I didn’t care about leaving United, to be honest.
"People said I was leaving the biggest club in the world but I just wanted to enjoy my football."
Fostercited the intense atmosphere surrounding Old Trafford, and spoke of his discontent.
"It was win at all costs. If you draw, it is the end of the world. Even if you win 1-0, people think you should be thumping teams 5-0. It was too much, ridiculous," stated the England 'keeper.
"Even training was intense. You’d see tackles flying in and scuffles all the time in practice matches. It would mean everything to players like Gary Neville. That’s the way he was and why he has been so successful.
"I’d like to look back at things I’ve won, but in my life that’s not the main thing. My family and kids are.
"I switch off when I’m not playing or training. I love to win, but United is another step up the ladder of mental toughness and the feeling that winning is everything."
Join us Live! here at Goal.com UK from 15:30, when Birmingham take on Arsenal in the Carling Cup final at Wembley.