Hull will focus on winning European passport

The Tigers will next month compete in their first FA Cup 
final when they meet Arsenal at Wembley.

A place in next season’s Europa League group stages is the prize that awaits the winners along with the famous old trophy.

Although Hull could also qualify if the Gunners finish in the top four of the Premier League to clinch a Champions League place, Elmohamady is adamant that the Yorkshire club do not want to go via the back-door route.

The Egyptian international said: “Getting to our first FA Cup final is a massive achievement, a huge step for the club. In football, anything can happen as Wigan showed (in the semi-final when coming within a whisker of beating Arsenal in Saturday’s first semi-final).

“We will first concentrate on the league because that is important for us, but then when the final comes, for the week it will have all our focus because we really want to win and want to play in Europe. That would be fantastic for us.”

If Hull can win the Cup, they would become only the fifth Yorkshire club to play in European competition.

Sheffield Wednesday were the trail-blazers when they took part in the 1961-62 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, the first of four seasons in which the Owls have competed on the continent.

Leeds United have had more campaigns in Europe than any other in Yorkshire with 18, while Middlesbrough are our most recent competitors with the 2005-06 campaign ending with Steve McClaren’s side reaching the UEFA Cup final. Bradford City complete the quartet of White Rose clubs to have played in Europe after reaching the semi-finals of the Intertoto Cup in 2000.

Whether Hull can follow suit remains to be seen. But a victory in the May 17 Cup final would guarantee a place in next season’s Europa League.

Failure to do that, however, and Hull will be banking on others with Arsenal needing to finish in the top four and win the Cup to earn Steve Bruce’s men a reprieve.

If the Gunners finish fifth, for instance, Manchester United, in seventh place, would claim the remaining Europa League berth due to Tottenham Hotspur already having qualified thanks to Manchester City winning the League Cup.

Hull will get an early chance to assess Arsenal when the London side come to the KC Stadium on Sunday.

Whether it can be seen as a dress rehearsal is, though, questionable with Cup-tied Shane Long and Nikica Jelavic both likely to start.

Elmohamady, Hull’s only ever-present in the Premier League, said: “Now we are in the final against a big team like Arsenal, it will be unbelievable.

“We all know how big this game is for the club. To be at Wembley for the second time this season is great. Some players have just played at Wembley for the first time and the experience will make us better next time.

“In our first year after being promoted to be playing Arsenal at Wembley in the cup final is fantastic, and to have a chance of taking this team into Europe.

“We have a great chance to make huge history and to make sure this is a huge season for us.”

For Elmohamady, the final will be his third appearance at the national stadium after playing for Egypt there in 2010.

It is an occasion that the 26-year-old will relish, especially as it will be a small slice of history for his native country.

He added: “I am the first player from Egypt to play in a semi-final at Wembley and now to have the chance to play in the FA Cup final, that’s a dream. I am proud of that and I am proud to play with these players and for this club.

“Everyone back home was watching the game (on Sunday).

“My family and friends will be watching the final, but at Wembley in an FA Cup final everyone around the world will be watching. I am proud of that. It is a huge game and a magnificent occasion.”

Hull’s allocation for the final will be 25,000 tickets with prices ranging from £45 to £115.

With the final likely to have a tea-time kick-off, Hull sports fans will have to decide whether to watch the Cup final or the derby clash between the city’s two rugby league clubs in the annual Magic Weekend.

Hull Kingston Rovers will face Hull FC on Saturday, May 17 at 5pm in Manchester and the Rugby Football League has confirmed there are no plans to move the derby.

An RFL spokesman said: “The Magic Weekend fixtures were published in January.

“Whilst we sympathise with the people who want to watch both the Hull derby and the FA Cup final, we believe that the most exciting match involving an East Yorkshire club on Saturday, May 17 will take place at the Etihad Stadium and not Wembley.”

Cup joy for Hull: Page 18.