Man City Will ‘Prioritise’ Europe Over FA Cup

Pellegrini can ill afford any more high profile absentees as City aim to get into their first Champions League quarter-final while they also play for Capital One Cup honours a week on Sunday.

Pellegrini suggests something needs to be done in future to make a prolonged run in the FA Cup – which requires the postponing of Premier League games – sit better with challenges in
other competitions.

Hiddink and Pellegrini meet in the FA Cup fifth round on Sunday with both sets of players aware they will be working under new coaches next season. “We have games still to go in the Premier League where there might be more options”.

Chelsea, who played their Champions League last-16 first leg last week, are no longer involved in the title race or the League Cup and have no such issues.

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Hiddink is wary though and said: “‘They have been a bit unlucky in the last games but a big club always reacts”.

He said: “We have played against Barcelona twice at this stage and when we were eliminated it wasn’t said that Barcelona were a good team.

They are all important but we must prioritise the Champions League”.

The suggestions have prompted uproar amongst the game’s traditionalists, but Hiddink drew a line in the sand between tradition and what he sees as the reality of the modern game.

Chelsea booked their place in the fifth round having beaten Scunthorpe and MK Dons but they’ll face a much sterner test in Manchester City this weekend.

Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink rules out managing another Premier League club when his interim spell at Stamford Bridge finishes at the end of the season. We always play with a strong team in the FA Cup.

Despite challenging for multiple trophies, City have yet to beat any of the current top five in the league although the Chilean is adamant they can overcome Guus Hiddink’s men, which you can back using your free bet.

Hiddink added: “We have a serious approach to the FA Cup”.

Manuel Pellegrini will put his faith in youth after revealing Manchester City have only 13 fit senior players for the FA Cup tie at Chelsea.

John Terry will definitely not feature for the hosts after he was ruled out with a hamstring injury. “If the people want to continue going to the stadium or Chelsea fans will enjoy that game, I don’t know”.