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Cesc Fabregas slams Manchester City's decision to play the kids in FA Cup demolition

Football

By Mirror | Feb 22, 2016

The Blues hammered the visitors' makeshift lineup 5-1 and the Spain midfielder said afterwards that he was 'surprised' by the team Manuel Pellegrini fielded

Cesc Fabregas poured scorn on Manuel Pellegrini’s decision to play the kids who were crushed by Chelsea.

Manchester City boss Pellegrini carried out his threat to play a shadow side because of the club’s Champions League clash with Dynamo Kiev in Ukraine on Wednesday.

But Fabregas, clearly puzzled at the team City put out, 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.”

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Pellegrini, who last week criticised the FA and BBC’s refusal to switch the tie to help City, denied he had disrespected the FA Cup.

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.”

Diego Costa, Willian, Gary Cahill, Eden Hazard and Bertrand Traore racked up City’s biggest-ever defeat under the current ownership.

French striker David Faupala, 19, hit City’s consolation. Guus Hiddink’s men go to Everton in the quarter-finals.

But Pellegrini remained defiant. He added: “If I’d had 20 players then maybe it would be different.

“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.”