Cesc Fabregas hits out at Manchester City for fielding youngsters in FA Cup game
Chelsea midfielder, Cesc Fabregas, has hit out at Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini for the latter's choice of fielding a City side filled with kids. Chelsea eventually ran out 5-1 winners and the former Arsenal man says it wasn't a nice move by the Chilean manager.
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).”
“I was surprised by City’s line-up. I don’t know if it was positive or negative for them. I thought it was negative for us because it put more pressure on us to win.”
Manuel Pellegrini had earlier this month hit out at the FA and the BBC for their refusal to switch the dates of the game given the fixture congestion his side have insisted that he'd fielded youngsters not because he disrespected the FA Cup – a competition much older than the club he manages.
He said: “It was the correct decision for the club. I don’t think I have to make a defence. In the previous two rounds we played against Premier League teams and I picked very strong teams.
“That was because of all the players we had available at that moment.
“One of the most important things we have to do in England is to help English teams in the Champions League. I have just 13 players available at the moment so couldn’t take the risk of playing them all.”
Chelsea scored 5 past hapless Willy Caballero with goals from Diego Costa, Willian, Gary Cahill, Eden Hazard and youngster Bertrand Traore.
“If I’d had 20 players then maybe it would be different," he added.
“But with just 13 players I couldn’t take the risk that one more would get injured or that they wouldn’t recover properly with a long flight tomorrow.”
Pellegrini's side now travel to Ukraine to take on Dynamo Kyiv in the UEFA Champions League.