West Ham avoided a fifth-round upset with a 5-1 comeback victory at Blackburn.
Advertisement
With City due to make the long flight to the Ukraine Monday ahead of its Champions League last 16 first leg tie at Dynamo Kiev Wednesday, Pellegrini had pleaded with the FA not to bow to demands from television networks to move the Chelsea game from its original Saturday date.
Chelsea have vowed to support any criminal prosecution and ban any supporter found responsible of coin throwing during Sunday’s FA Cup fifth-round tie with Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea will now travel to Everton in the quarter-finals in a replay of the 2009 FA Cup final that Guus Hiddink won during his first spell as caretaker. “Winning the FA Cup is lovely world-wide, so we must be careful not to devalue it”.
“We played great football”.
These are two teams who have struggled to live up to expectations so far in the Premier League season, particularly Chelsea who parted ways with manager Jose Mourinho, and the FA Cup is a chance for both teams to bring home a trophy.
“I was aware. I can easily say “no, I am not aware” – but I was aware”, Hiddink said.
Five players – Manu Garcia, Aleix Garcia, Tosin Adarabiyo, Bersant Celina and David Faupala – made debuts as the likes of Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure and Raheem Sterling were rested.
Reigning Premier League champions Chelsea, a huge 20 points behind shock leaders Leicester, overwhelmed City.
The Belgian crossed for striker Costa to head his ninth goal in 12 games on 36 minutes, although City hit back just seconds later when France Under-18 forward Faupala forced home Kelechi Iheanacho’s low centre.
“Those people must not come into stadiums”. “I thought it was negative for us because it put more pressure on us to win”.
Speaking after the game, Fabregas said, “We played Newcastle (last week) and three days later played against one of the best sides in Europe (PSG)”.
It should have been five soon after, but Oscar saw a penalty saved by Caballero after Martin Demichelis bundled over Bertrand Traore.
Chelsea players congratulate Eden Hazard, third from right, after he scored his side’s fourth goal against Manchester City on Sunday.
Advertisement
Chris Taylor was sent off for Rovers in the 55th minute and Cheikhou Kouyate was dismissed for the Hammers with 15 minutes left.
