MARK Hughes has praised the people of Blackburn for the fabulous support his team has received.

Around 23,000 Rovers fans are set to converge on Old Trafford tomorrow hoping to cheer their team to the FA Cup Final.

And the four-times FA Cup winner Hughes is delighted by the response from the Blackburn public.

He said: "We've sold the vast majority of our tickets, they're expensive tickets as well, but the town has really come out and supported us.

"You have to understand that it is an expensive business, especially with the FA setting the prices, but our fans have really shown a lot of support for the team and paid not only the lower prices but the higher prices as well and they're going down there to enjoy the day and we hope to give them something to cheer.

"It's a huge game for Blackburn Rovers.

"Not only is it an opportunity to make history, but if Manchester United win the other semi-final then it's an opportunity for us to get into Europe as well.

"From our point of view, it's a game of huge significance. We really enjoyed the European adventure this year and it has helped us develop as a team and we want it every year now.

"It's going to be very difficult because we're up against a very accomplished side but we're going to give it our best shot."

Hughes has many happy memories of Wembley, but he's not too sad to see the back of the old stadium.

He added: "My view of the old Wembley is maybe a little bit controversial, but I always felt the pitch was too good.

"The final itself looked fantastic for the television but to play on, the grass was a little bit too lush, a bit too slow.

"That was always my theory of why there weren't that many fantastic games at the old Wembley so that's why I thought the semi-finals were always much more exciting.

"I always remember FA Cup semi-final days as much as the finals. The semis were always as exciting from a viewing point of view as the finals, so invariably they were better games.

"We've been close to getting to a Cup Final in recent years. We got to the Worthington Cup Final in my playing time here, we enjoyed that, but an FA Cup final is special - with it being at the new Wembley as well."