Pellegrini: City have only 13 players available at Chelsea

Ian Watson

Manuel Pellegrini will put his faith in youth after revealing Manchester City have only 13 fit senior players for the FA Cup tie at Chelsea.

City travel to Stamford Bridge for an FA Cup fifth-round clash on Sunday, just 76 hours before they face Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League.

Pellegrini is annoyed at the scheduling of the cup tie so soon before a trip to Ukraine, especially given the club’s injury list.

 

“We have just 13 players available to play,” he told journalists at his pre-match press conference. “We have to play Champions League on Wednesday – we’ll see the best team we can play on Sunday.

“We couldn’t play on the Saturday for some reason, so we put out the best team we can.

“Sagna worked today after ten days out, Mangala is injured – Nasri, De Bruyne and Bony are also out.

“Bony has started working on the pitch these last two days. He needs at least one week more.

“Tomorrow we have a squad list – I have to talk to the doctor and the players who’ve recovered.

City’s injury list means Pellegrini will select a youthful side and the manager has urged his youngsters to seize their opportunity.

“Young players have the option and they must take their chances. We normally have some young players in the cup – one or two maximum. I hope with the team we play against Chelsea, we hope they make the performance that we know they can.”