Manchester City smarting over Sunday date for Chelsea FA Cup clash
City, who are chasing four trophies this season, are disappointed they have to travel to Stamford Bridge three days before visiting Dynamo Kyiv in the first leg of their last 16 Champions League clash.
Officials at City have written to FA to formally register their anger at the game going ahead on the Sunday, with the Blues flying to Kyiv the following Monday.
City manager Manuel Pellegrini had suggested he would play a weakened side if his team were made to play on the Sunday. The most recent meeting in 2014 came just weeks after Chelsea had completed a Premier League double by beating City at The Etihad – but Manuel Pellegrini’s men exacted swift revenge winning that match.
“I don’t see why I can’t play Saturday”. If we have to play on Sunday, we will not play with our full team.
They add that if the game with Chelsea goes to a replay, there will be no available date for that tie before the next round, due to worldwide fixtures and their rearranged Premier League game with Newcastle.
“So if we have to play on the Sunday, we will have to see which players will have to play”.
But with City still alive in four competitions this term, Pellegrini feels he will have to prioritise and the FA Cup is evidently last on his list.
It is understood a Friday night game was considered but this would not have fitted with the BBC’s schedule.
In his three seasons at City, Pellegrini has usually fielded strong teams in the domestic knockout cups.
“I think it is better to play the strongest team in the Champions League”.
He said: “I’m very anxious for a lot of things”.
BT Sport will show Arsenal v Hull on Saturday 20 and Blackburn v West Ham or Liverpool the following day.
“There are some fantastic fifth-round ties and the FA and its broadcast partners want to give as many people as possible the opportunity to view these games”.