Shearer: Barca don’t rest players, so why City?

Daniel Storey

Alan Shearer has criticised Manuel Pellegrini’s decision to rest his star players in Manchester City’s 5-1 FA Cup defeat at Chelsea on Sunday.

Pellegrini started with six teenagers at Stamford Bridge, insisting he had “no choice” due to this week’s Champions League trip to Kiev.

But Shearer questioned Pellegrini’s judgement, insisting it undermined City’s desire to be regarded as one of the biggest clubs in the world.

Shearer told BBC Sport:

“I don’t get the talk of resting players. City are and want to be a very big club on the global stage.

“They’ve got more resources than anyone. I never see Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo wanting to be left out.

“Barcelona played on Saturday and they face Arsenal in the Champions League on Tuesday.

“It is the same amount of time as City, but they didn’t rest any players.”