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Carragher delighted to finally realise Wembley dream

Jamie Carragher wants to replicate the Carling Cup victory earlier this season © Getty Images

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Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher is grateful to finally get the chance to play in an FA Cup final at Wembley.

Due to a combination of luck and circumstance, the experienced Carragher has never run out in an FA Cup final at the home of football - but could get the chance this weekend as the Reds face Chelsea in the final.

Carragher was a late substitute in the Carling Cup final at the same venue earlier in the year, but believes Saturday will be a bigger stage altogether.

"It's an incredible feeling, to be going to Wembley for an FA Cup final - I had a fear I'd never play at the ground for Liverpool," Carragher told the Mirror. "I never played at the old Wembley and have played a few times for England at the new one, but playing for Liverpool in a cup final is special.

"The FA Cup is a bigger stage than the Carling Cup final. It's a fantastic day to give the supporters something to shout about. The supporters haven't had a lot of them in recent years.

"It really is something special."

The 34-year-old is by no means guaranteed to be given the nod to start the game by manager Kenny Dalglish, but insists that will not detract from matters for him. "It doesn't matter if you play or not," said Carragher. "If we win, we know we are all part of the club and that's what we want, to be part of something special.

"I'm the same as everyone else. I don't have to do anything different, just train the way I normally do. If I play, great. If I don't, then I'll get behind the lads. I am happy to be going to Wembley at last for this final."

With his career winding down, Carragher remains hungry to keep adding to the Merseyside club's illustrious history. "We have a great history, we know that, and we want to keep that going. I don't think the pressure to do that will affect me," he added. "I don't feel any pressure from the past. You just go out and play. We are aware of the past but we don't think about that going into the game. It's a cup final.

"We want to write our own story. Winning two trophies would be a big thing, without a doubt. We had gone six years without winning. In that time we had some great Champions League nights but at the end of your career you want medals to look back on.

"If we win two of the three competitions we have been in, it would be a great season."

Watch the final episode of ESPN's Fan Film series as the Chelsea and Liverpool fans get ready for the FA Cup final

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