Ossie's Cup Superstition

Midfielder on why he passed up chance to touch the trophy.

Sportsmen can be superstitious individuals at the best of times.

So it was no surprise when Leon Osman refused the chance to lift the FA Cup this week.

The famous old trophy was at an event at Goodison Park ahead of Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final, with the England midfielder also in attendance.

But there was no chance he was going to risk any potential jinx by getting overly intimate with the silverware.

Instead, he's focused on securing a future Wembley date with the trophy by despatching Wigan this weekend.

"There has been a confidence about us pretty much all season," Osman told a room full of Season Ticket holders and the evertontv cameras. "We came out of the blocks quickly and have been playing good football and believing in ourselves."

A home draw against the Premier League strugglers has the Blue half of Merseyside already eyeing up a fourth trip to English football's HQ in as many years.

But Osman insists that attitude isn't one being adopted at Finch Farm.

What’s more, complacency won't be an issue despite the Blues rediscovering some of their better form in the 3-1 win over Reading last weekend.

"Of course not," said Osman. "The two games we have had against Wigan have been right up there with the toughest we have had this season. We have taken four points from the games but they haven't come easily and we know what to expect come Saturday.

"We have had a bit of a sticky patch for the last month. You find it hard to go through a whole season without having one of those. Hopefully now we have got a few players back, Kevin Mirallas is in form, so hopefully we can get back up and running.”

"It wasn't doom and gloom,” he continued. “We are still sixth in the league and in the quarter finals of the FA Cup, so it shows the high standards that a defeat or two - one of which was to Manchester United - is counted as a sticky patch."

So no chance of Osman taking a sneaky closer look at the FA Cup?

"It's a bit of a superstition; footballers have them! I will just stare at it and hope to get my hands on it in a couple of months’ time."

Tickets for Saturday's game are now on general now. To join us at Goodison Park, click here or call 0871 663 1878.

Alternatively, visit the Park End Box Office, Everton Two in Liverpool One or TicketQuarter in Queen Square.