Alan Shearer: Barcelona don’t rest players so why do Manchester City?

Manchester City will field a weakened team for this weekend’s FA Cup fifth-round tie at Chelsea but the home club will not follow suit, their respective managers said on Friday.

In Terry’s absence, Branislav Ivanovic – who started alongside Gary Cahill in Paris – is set to keep his place at the heart of Chelsea’s defence.

Manuel Pellegrini wants to see the domestic cup schedule change to help English clubs playing in the Champions League.

“We have only 13 senior players available and must play in the Champions League on Wednesday”.

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If I, as a manager, don’t give any importance to the FA Cup, then I must have a good reason.

Holders Arsenal were taken to a replay by second-tier Hull on Saturday while beleaguered Louis van Gaal takes his United team to League Two side Shrewsbury on Monday.

Pellegrini suggests something needs to be done in future to make a prolonged run in the FA Cup – which requires the postponing of Premier League games – sit better with challenges in other competitions.

“Many people are focused on the FA Cup“. Until you go to the final stage, which is semi-finals and final, which I think the whole world likes to see, because of its importance, in the weekends.

Chelsea midfielder Oscar believes interim manager Guus Hiddink is getting the best out of his players and has them working as a team. “We must be careful”.

Following Hiddink’s remarks, a Chelsea spokesperson said the club would issue bans and support criminal prosecutions of those responsible.

Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink has ruled out the possibility of managing another Premier League team next season.

“I had good memories of that time, but that’s the past”.

“It’s not a break point – it’s an important week as we can win the first title and we can make one step further in the Champions League by reaching the quarter final for the first time”, he added. “Everton will remember that final as well and they will go for their revenge”.