Skinner Wants Winners (Marc Skinner interview)

Five months into his first managerial job, Marc Skinner is leading Birmingham City out at Wembley and refuses to accept the underdog label against Manchester City. He does not turn up for work to be second best, he says, and believes Blues have missed out on trophies in the past by not telling themselves they could win. After thirteen years coaching at the club, latterly as Regional Talent Club director, he knew exactly the direction he wanted: players comfortable on the ball, able to play out from the back and pose a goal threat, rather than simply battling their way to wins. Wins over Arsenal and Chelsea, achieved on resilience and counter-attacks and settled on penalties in the semi-final, suggest it is taking hold in a squad averaging 22.3 years.