The Chelsea captain missed the 2-1 Champions League defeat at Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday due to a hamstring injury sustained in the 5-1 win over Newcastle United last weekend.
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City’s poor recent run does not appear to have prompted a re-think, with Pellegrini citing injury problems that leave him with 13 fully fit senior outfield players and a need to prioritise the Champions League.
The 35-year-old skipper’s next appearance will be his 700th for Chelsea, who maintain a contract offer might be forthcoming after Terry revealed he would be leaving Stamford Bridge when his current deal expires at the end of the season.
“Yesterday he was trying a bit on the pitch but still [has] too many problems to be fit for the weekend”.
“We have a week and I hope that next weekend he will be available”.
“I said a couple of weeks ago if you want to protect the English team in the Champions League the game was (played on) Saturday – but for different reasons we couldn’t play that day”.
Despite confirming their status as genuine contenders with that impressive victory against Manuel Pellegrini’s side last Sunday, Dembele insists the players can not start thinking about the title. “Let’s see what the results are of the tests he did today, where he can come in”. It is impossible at this moment to continue to the final of the FA Cup.
Hiddink warned that any young players City pick “will be going 120 percent”.
“About midweek (fixtures), I’m in favour”, Hiddink said.
Pellegrini said: “We always try to play with a strong team in every competition – every competition is important, especially the FA Cup”.
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“For smaller clubs it’s a big adventure, to have the opportunity when they have a good result to have a (replay)”.
