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Does today signal the start of a trophy-laden era for Melbourne City? Or will the FFA Cup final with Sydney FC be a false dawn for the cashed-up super club with a head office in Abu Dhabi? Like everyone else, goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen isn't sure which outcome awaits City in the club's maiden decider. But he knows how a trophy can change the fate of a club. Sorensen saw the transformation of Manchester City first hand, albeit in unfortunate personal circumstances. The Danish gloveman was in goals for Stoke City for the 2011 FA Cup final, the first trophy won by Manchester City under the same ownership that now supports his Melbourne side. The English Premier League powerhouse-in-waiting claimed their first trophy in 35 years when Yaya Toure struck home for a 1-0 win in the Wembley sunshine. Sorensen was an immense performer, producing 13 saves. But the occasion was all about City, and Sorensen remembers the transformation the club took after that. "It was a massive game for them. They were feeling the pressure as well," he said. "They were expected to win the final against us but it was a close game. "They won the league the year after and the rest is history. Now they're a top club and expected to win every year. "That's what we want to do here to but we need to get over the line [against Sydney FC]." The 40-year-old said only victory at AAMI Park would suffice for the ambitious club. "You can talk about it but at the end of the day you've got to win ... coming close all the time, that doesn't really move you anywhere," he said. "We've got the whole setup, the plans are in place. "We've got a good enough squad. "You've got to create that winning mentality, that winning culture, and the only way to do that is by winning trophies." Sorensen is far from guaranteed to play in the final, given coach John Van 't Schip's recent preference for Dean Bouzanis in goal. But he hopes his big game experience might give him the edge when the Dutchman makes the call on his preferred gloveman. "I think we all want to be in the Cup final. There will be 11 players out there, we're all fighting to get a shot," he said. "I've been there and I'm ready for it. "The manager knows that. He knows where I'm at and he can count on me. If he needs me, I'm there."
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