Sir Alex Ferguson will use the prospect of a Wembley semi-final as a motivational tool for Manchester United ahead of the tie with Arsenal.
Victory that day was the prelude to an appearance in the first final at the 'new' Wembley, which they lost to Chelsea.
Since then, all semi-finals have been played at the stadium; United losing out to Everton in 2009.
Now they stand one step away from a return. And whilst there are plenty of areas for Ferguson to attack; a meeting with his side's biggest title challengers and a need to avoid a third successive defeat, a trip to Wembley is going to be part of his team talk.
"There is a certain credibility about taking your team to Wembley, even though I don't entirely agree with semi-finals being played there," said Ferguson.
"Nonetheless it is Wembley, so it's a smashing incentive for everyone."
In fact, the incentive goes beyond that given so few of the current United squad boast a winners' medal.
The Red Devils have not added to their record 11 triumphs in the competition since 2004 and they last lifted the trophy at Wembley during their 1999 Treble-winning campaign.
"It has been a few years since we last won it, so it is an opportunity," he said.
"The FA Cup is only rewarding if you get to the final and win it. That is what we have here."
United also have the opportunity to inflict a bit more pain on Arsenal in the wake of their Champions League exit in Barcelona.
However, as Ferguson's team are also smarting from back-to-back losses at Chelsea and Liverpool, it is little wonder the United chief does not have time to worry about Arsene Wenger's problems.
Wenger has been centre stage following the row over Robin van Persie's red card at the Nou Camp and UEFA's subsequent decision to charge the Gunners boss with improper conduct.
That only mirrors the difficulties Ferguson encountered with his observations about Martin Atkinson after last week's Premier League defeat at Chelsea, which he must answer an FA charge about.
But by imposing a media blackout around the weekend encounter with Liverpool, when United were badly beaten, the Scot has had to endure more negative publicity about his own club.
Little wonder, when asked whether he had any sympathy for Wenger, Ferguson turned the question back on himself.
"I have sympathy for myself. I didn't have an easy week myself," he said.
"But when you get the bad moments, you have to recover.
"You never go through a season where everything is rosy and this has happened a few times. It is just another day in the history of Manchester United.
"There are a lot of challenges ahead for the rest of the season. We have big opportunities."
Although Ferguson is delighted to be involved on three fronts, his problem is that too many senior players are not involved, as many as 10 could be missing on Saturday.
They include Rio Ferdinand and Michael Owen, both of whom are set for a return to training next week after recent calf and hamstring problems, plus Antonio Valencia, who is nearing a comeback after breaking his ankle in September.
That will not be of much use against Arsenal though, a side who were United's first Premier League rivals and whom are now scrapping it out at the top once more after a period in Chelsea's shadow.
"It's difficult to say how much better they are but Arsenal are certainly closer to winning the league this season, that's without question," said Ferguson.
"That indicates an improvement in their team but then, they have always had good sides ever since I came down here from Scotland.
"Their history demands that and we are the same. We have to have competitive, successful teams. That's what big clubs have to do.
"It shows there is an opportunity for everyone in this division if you have got the ambition and desire to do things."
