BRAD Friedel has hailed the magic of the Carling Cup as he aims to lead Blackburn Rovers to their second final in four years tonight.

Friedel was one of the stars when Rovers lifted the trophy in 2002, turning in a Herculean performance at the Millennium Stadium as Spurs were defeated 2-1.

Now the former United States number one is hoping to do the same again by keeping Manchester United at bay this evening, which would keep Rovers on course for their first trophy under Mark Hughes.

"This is a great competition for a club like Blackburn," said Friedel.

"We take it very seriously and we put out a strong team in every single game we play, which is probably why we tend to do so well in it.

"The clubs who are in Europe are, obviously, going to field slightly weaker sides in this competition, just because they've got so many games.

"But even United put a very strong side out once they got to the semi-finals so I think they want to win it as much as we do this year.

"As for tonight's game, we won at Old Trafford earlier in the season so we know we can do it.

"But on the other side of the coin, that was our first win there in something like 42 years so it's never an easy place to come to."