Appearing to be more concerned with the league, next weekend’s Capital One Cup final and upcoming Champions League matches, Man. City manager Manuel Pellegrini opted for a youthful squad filled with backups, while Chelsea was at full strength. “(At Chelsea) we couldn’t because I think we have more important things at this moment”.
Advertisement
Chelsea are 14 points behind fourth-placed City in the race to secure a spot in next season’s Champions League.
Bertrand Traore has backed Chelsea to finish the season in triumphant fashion following their 5-1 FA Cup win over Manchester City. Today, we couldn’t because we had more important things at the moment.
“We were forced to do it, we couldn’t play another day and didn’t have any more fit players”, Pellegrini told BBC Sport.
The South Londoners are now hoping to reach their first FA Cup final since 1990, when they were beaten by Manchester United in a replay. “We played a very good 45 minutes in which we equalised the game”.
Hiddink was keen to focus on the quality of his team’s performance as opposed to the composition of the City side, saying: “Manchester City made changes but that doesn’t make it easy because the youngsters that came in were risky”. The best decision for our club. I could easily say, “no, I’m not aware”, but I was aware and I always like to face the facts a bit – not a bit, a lot.
On the prospect of facing Everton at Goodison Park in the last eight, Hiddink said: “I have good memories of the 2009 final, but that is in the past”.
Pellegrini sought to justify his decision by pointing out that City will fly out for their Champions League game on Monday.
“We played against a very good team and that’s why they won”.
“We condemn such idiotic and risky behaviour”, a Chelsea spokesman said. “Those people, they must not come into stadiums”, he further added. “It’s a criminal offence and we will support any police prosecution if we can identify those individuals responsible”. “We must be careful not to devalue this”, said Hiddink.
Advertisement
“There’s not much left in the league for Chelsea, to be honest”, he said.
