Conor McAleny eyes a potential trip to Wembley

“This is what you’re in football for, you want to win trophies, you want to get promoted” – Conor McAleny eyes a potential trip to Wembley

Salford City forward Conor McAleny spoke ahead of the Ammies’ second leg play-off clash with Stockport on Saturday.

The 30-year-old who has scored 11 goals this season and assisted two highlighted the resilience of last week’s first leg win and the possibility of a trip to Wembley.

McAleny said: “We were the home team so we had to be aggressive. We know they’re a good side and we didn’t want to let them get a foothold in the game and towards the end the lads fought really well on and off the ball.

“Credit to the lads. We’ve been working on it, everyone knows their individual jobs and it’s such a massive game so people are throwing their bodies on the line and putting that extra 10% in and I thought we did that really well.”

A big save from @AlexCairns30 ❌

73 seconds later… @mattjpsmith heads us into the lead 🎯 pic.twitter.com/0orRf0jA01

— Salford City FC (@SalfordCityFC) May 16, 2023

Speaking on what a visit to the capital would mean for Salford City he said: “It would be massive. It would be the first ever Salford team to get to Wembley in a League Two play-off and get promoted. So we want to be involved in that, that would be a nice little bit of history.

He added: “Obviously on just a personal level, this is what you’re in in football for, you want to win trophies, you want to get promoted, you want to be part of those types of squad and we’re nearly there. We’ve got a few jobs to do and hopefully fingers crossed we get the job done.”

McAleny went on to describe the venue as “the pinnacle” and that playing at Wembley would “mean the world” to the player.

Salford’s last and only play-off at Wembley saw them beat Fylde to earn promotion to League Two in 2020. Credit: Salford City Youtube, Screenshot

He added: “You want to just go to Wembley and win a game at Wembley, you want to lift a trophy at Wembley. Seeing so many teams and players do it, it would be massive. Your family is there to see it, your friends, it’s such a big occasion.”

However, going into the weekend’s fixture the flying forward refused to get carried away.

He said: “We’ve obviously got a lead. It’s a small lead. We’re not getting away from ourselves, we’ve got a one goal cushion and that’s it. They’re a tough team. We know it’s going to be a big job and it’s just up to us to get that done.

Second leg in our sights 👊@TheoVassell 📸 pic.twitter.com/rqfSfjtXDj

— Salford City FC (@SalfordCityFC) May 18, 2023

He added: “It was a tough game at their place last time we played, we went one nil down and still walked away with a point, so that was a big positive. You know what the crowd’s going to be like, but it’s just up to us to quieten that down and just perform and hopefully we can do it.”

Salford will need calm heads on Saturday at Edgeley Park and will look to rely on the experience of players such as new signing Adrian Mariappa.

McAleny said of his teammate: “He’s got experience and a few years on us. I think he’s had a positive impact. He’s well liked by the lads and giving us that experience at the back, that calmness, that coolness. He’s obviously fitted in and he’s doing a good job.”

The attacker was full of praise for the Salford faithful as he said: “They came out in their numbers last time we were there; they were really loud as well. Obviously Callum got the equalising goal right next to the fans. They’re going to be a massive help for us.”