Swindon manager Paolo di Canio 'proud' of Wembley place

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Di Canio confident of final win

Swindon manager Paolo di Canio says he feels "proud and happy" after his side booked a place at Wembley in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final.

The Robins beat Barnet 1-0 on Tuesday to seal a 2-1 aggregate win.

"In eight years as a footballer in England, I hoped to go there and play in a final but it didn't happen," he told BBC Points West.

"Now I've done it as a manager for the first time after just seven or eight months. It makes me proud and happy."

He added: "It makes me think life is incredible. Everybody was expecting me to get sacked after two months. Maybe it will happen in the next few months, I don't know, but at the moment everything is perfect."

Di Canio's side, who are also pushing for promotion in League Two, will now face Chesterfield in the final on 25 March.

And despite the Spireites sitting a league above, the Italian is bullish on their chances of lifting the trophy.

"We beat Wigan, deservedly. We beat Huddersfield so we won't have any problems with Chesterfield," he added.

"Obviously they are one league above and it means they have something more at the start of the season. But they way we are playing now and the way Chesterfield are playing, we can beat them because they are struggling in League One.

"When we play football on a big pitch, on a beautiful surface like at Wembley, we are better than many clubs in the Championship. That is my opinion."

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