Robinson will take confidence from the United win and encourage his players to execute his game plan in a contest where MK Dons have nothing to lose.
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The Blues make the trip to the League One side on Sunday evening fresh from a 1-0 win against London rivals Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium last weekend. Read on to find out form guides, team news and betting odds in Standard Sport’s comprehensive preview.
“I don’t want to say that (the cup is more important) because we’d be neglecting the beauty of the Premier League, but the next step is about Sunday”.
“I said we are short of strikers, of available strikers, so I said let’s go for it”.
MK Dons beat Manchester United 4-0 in the Capital One Cup second round in August 2014 before going on to beat Bradford in the next round.
Hazard, who has not scored for Chelsea since May, has recovered from a groin injury.
Paperwork delays will keep Chelsea fans waiting to see Alexandre Pato in action, however, although Hiddink confirmed the Brazilian is set to join the club before the close of the transfer window on Monday.
George Baldock has returned following his loan spell at Oxford, but is cup-tied after featuring against Swansea, while Matthew Upson (hamstring), Ben Reeves (thigh) and Carl Baker (ankle) are out.
Predicted XI: Martin; Lewington, Spence, Kay, Walsh; Forster-Caskey, Potter; Williams, Carruthers, Murphy; Church. Otherwise I think the Dutchman will stick with the same back four that kept a clean sheet against Arsenal last weekend meaning Branislav Ivanovic, Kurt Zouma and Cesar Azpilicueta will keep their places.
Despite a gradual improvement, Chelsea sit 13th in the Premier League, leaving the FA Cup and Champions League as their only hopes of silverware this term.
Hiddink, who won the 2009 FA Cup with the Blues, said: ‘It would be a huge achievement. We aim the group for targets.
Chelsea have netted two or more goals in each of our previous three FA Cup matches.
“All the prep and hard work that goes into every game doesn’t mean anything if we go and freeze”.
Robinson: “Chelsea still have some of the best players in the world, and we know they want to come here and play the strongest team they can”.
The Dons are mired in a fight for their Championship future as they prepare to play the Premier League champions in a first competitive fixture.
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“Whatever the outcome, we need to utilise this experience and use it as a learning curve for the rest of the season”.
