Everton: Louis Saha ready to take on old team-mates at Manchester United
Everton gave him a chance to prove he could still cope with the top flight on a £2million, two-year deal.
It was reported Saha even offered to play for nothing such was the scepticism over his constant injury troubles.
And now Saha has got his dream showdown with the Old Trafford side in next month's semi-final at Wembley.
Saha, more than most, knows just what Everton will come up against in a United outfit who have dominated as the season has progressed.
The 30 year-old from Paris said: "The semi-final draw with Manchester United is obviously extra-special for me, of course, because I used to play for them and this will be a very big moment for me.
"But United are just amazing. The great players they have and the big squad, they seem to win all the time."
The semi-final, a re-run of the 1995 final which Everton won 1-0 against Manchester United at the old Wembley, is the toughest draw Everton could have been given.
Their manager David Moyes has managed just one win in 15 attempts against United in his six-years at Goodison.
Saha said: "It will be tough. But we can bring quality to the match, we will have chances to go through to the final.
"But we will have to play hard against a team of United's quality. We will be underdogs against a great team of quality and belief.
"They do not seem to lose many semi-finals, so it will be one of our hardest games of the season, we all know that.
"But that is why there is such magic in football. We can do it, we can get to the final even against the best team in the country.
"It is special and everything is possible. That is why people pay so much money to see such games between the big clubs.
"We too have the quality and belief to achieve our ambitions, this team knows they are capable of reaching the final."
Saha now believes he is approaching full fitness after yet more injury woes.
He has made just two substitute appearances after being out with a hamstring injury since November, but scored in both games against West Brom and now Middlesbrough.
He said: "I was only on for half the match, just a little more than the previous week when I made my comeback from injury.
"It worked well and I was delighted with the goal. Now I have to work towards playing for the full 90 minutes.
"I am close to it, the manager knows that and I hope to be back from the start very soon. Certainly for the semi-final.
"Until then we have important league games to ensure that we finish as high as possible. We feel we can get higher than we are.
"We are not just happy to go to the semi-final, we want a trophy for the fans and this club."
