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Crashing out: No disrespect for FA Cup, insists Pellegrini

City manager defends team selection following 5-1 thrashing by Chelsea

Afp February 23, 2016

Chelsea ran riot at Stamford Bridge, scoring five goals against an under-strength City to sentence them to their worst defeat since 2008. PHOTO: AFP

LONDON: Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini refused to apologise for his controversial decision to field a team of youngsters after the Sky Blues were dumped out of the FA Cup with a 5-1 thrashing at Chelsea.

Pellegrini stood accused of disrespecting the famous old competition as he selected six teenagers, with five making their full debuts, and then watched them suffer City’s heaviest defeat since their Abu Dhabi-based owners bought the club in 2008.

With City due to play their Champions League last-16 first leg tie at Dynamo Kiev on Wednesday and then face Liverpool in the League Cup final on Sunday, Pellegrini felt forced to turn to his raw rookies because the FA had refused to listen to his plea to stage the fifth round tie on Saturday instead of bowing to television demands to play it on Sunday.

“I don’t think I need to defend myself. We played two rounds before against Premier League teams and won by playing the best players we had at that moment,” said Pellegrini, who further claimed that the FA should do more to help the teams competing in the Champions League.

FA Cup: Pellegrini to send ‘under-strength’ City to Stamford Bridge

After several seasons of underachievement in Europe, City have a good opportunity to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time and Pellegrini had no qualms about sacrificing the FA Cup to achieve that aim.

“The Champions League is not more important than the FA Cup. But we have several players injured, so it was important to rest the others,” added the Chilean.

Chelsea now face Everton in the quarter-final after the Toffees overcame Bournemouth 2-0 at Dean Court.

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Pardew ecstatic as Palace dump Tottenham

Alan Pardew wants to lead Crystal Palace to their ‘best season ever’ after Martin Kelly’s winner meant Tottenham Hotspur cannot now pull off a domestic double.

Kelly’s strike in first-half stoppage time turned out to be just enough for a 1-0 victory at White Hart Lane.

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The Eagles will appear in the last-eight of the competition for the first time in 21 years, and they will take on Championship side Reading.

“We can still have the best season Crystal Palace has ever had in the Premier League,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 23^rd, 2016.

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