Manuel Pellegrini has warned fans that he does not consider Sunday's trip to Chelsea 'a real game', with the Manchester City manager set to make wholesale changes for the FA Cup fifth-round tie.

The Chilean argues that he has been forced to leave a collection of star players at home because of fixture congestion made worse by the television broadcasters.

Pellegrini is likely to field up to five of the Under 21 squad — including Bersant Celina and Manu Garcia — in his starting line-up at Stamford Bridge, instead prioritising the Champions League trip to Ukraine in midweek. City then face Liverpool at Wembley a week on Sunday in the Capital One Cup Final.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini believes he must make a selection sacrifice against Chelsea

Pellegrini arrives at Stockport station as his City squad caught the train to London on Saturday

Gael Clichy, Willy Caballero and Raheem Sterling follow their manager along the platform

Manu Garcia is one of a host of players from City's Under-21 squad who could line up for the senior side

City feel they are not able to offer the FA Cup the respect it deserves. According to Pellegrini, English football's governing body are damaging their own flagship competition by not bringing this particular fixture forward.

'I think it's not a real game, of course; not enough to pay the ticket,' he said. 'I always give a lot of importance to the cups. They must think why [City are playing a second string].

'We always try to play a strong team in the cups, and it would be very nice to finish with a game at Wembley, but there are some moments when you have to prioritise because you don't receive any help and you could damage your prospects.

'The fans want to see a good game but we told them one week ago that we are going to play a young team. If the people want to continue going to the stadium, that's for them.'

The Chilean feels he has little option but to rotate given the close proximity of the Dynamo Kiev match

Vincent Kompany has eased his way back to fitness and should be in line to feature in the Champions League

City's youngsters will be given a chance to impress against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon

After meeting Guus Hiddink's Chelsea, City fly out on Monday afternoon to prepare for Wednesday's last-16 first leg against Dynamo Kiev. City had played strong teams in both previous FA Cup rounds, producing thumping wins at Norwich and Aston Villa.

But their manager thinks it is out of the question for English clubs to be able to challenge on so many fronts and called for a change of approach at the FA. In Italy, Juventus had this weekend's Serie A match against Bologna brought forward to Friday night to offer ample preparation for their meeting with Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

Pellegrini added: 'I have enough problems trying to manage a team, without managing the FA. But the reality is that we must make some changes. Maybe without replays can be one solution. Someone said we must eliminate one cup, but I think the cups are good. All the stadiums are at full capacity, even if it is a League Two team.

'So I think fans like the football. I think we should continue with the FA Cup because it is very traditional, but we must make some (better) arrangements.'

Raheem Sterling arrived at Manchester City with the hope of winning trophies at the Etihad Stadium

David Silva, Nicolas Otamendi and Kompany may well be rested at Stamford Bridge for the FA Cup clash

Despite a favourable Champions League draw — City have been knocked out by Barcelona in both of the past two seasons — Pellegrini refuses to take Dynamo Kiev lightly. He has watched them this week and will field a full-strength side in Ukraine, despite fitness issues.

SWEEPING CHANGES 19 - changes made by Arsenal and Hull in Saturday's fifth-round tie at Emirates Stadium Advertisement

'We aren't thinking it will be easy,' he said. 'I always put up the example of Malaga. Everyone wanted to play them because they thought it would be easy, but we eliminated some good teams.'

City enter this tough week without Kevin De Bruyne, who is still looking at an April return after tearing knee ligaments late in last month's Capital One Cup semi-final against Everton. 'After a month he can start to work and maybe we can squeeze the time,' added Pellegrini. 'At the moment we think one month to recover and then one month or six weeks to work.'

Pablo Zabaleta has returned to the starting line-up in recent weeks due to the absence of Bacary Sagna

Sergio Aguero ensured he was heavily wrapped up during a final training session before travelling south

Aleix Garcia signed from Villarreal in August and City would not hesitate in throwing him into Sunday's game

As for Sunday's game, Pellegrini will hand whizzkid Celina, 19, his full debut. Celina is highly rated at the Etihad Stadium and talks over a new five-year deal for the attacking midfielder are under way.

Indeed, a host of clubs, Celtic included, showed firm interest in taking Celina on loan last month. But while fellow starlet Patrick Roberts was allowed to leave for Parkhead, Pellegrini blocked all moves for Celina, believing the teenager can play a role for his side at the business end of this demanding season.

The City boss has stayed true to his word, Celina making three substitute appearances since the turn of the year. The youngster backed up his manager's confidence a fortnight ago, setting up Sergio Aguero's late consolation goal in the 3-1 home defeat to Leicester City.

17-year-old Cameron Humphreys-Grant could start should regular starter Otamendi be rested in the FA Cup

Bersant Celina came on against Leicester recently while Angelino has also already featured in the FA Cup

THE STARLETS WHO COULD COME IN FOR CITY AGAINST CHELSEA BERSANT CELINA (Aged 19, Norwegian- Kosovan, midfielder) Born in Kosovo but moved to Norway as a child, wideman Celina has played in both rounds of the FA Cup and was brought on against Leicester. Leicester. ALEIX GARCIA (Aged 18, Spanish, holding midfielder) With an enviable range to his passing, Garcia had featured in La Liga for Villarreal before signing for City in August. CAMERON HUMPHREYS-GRANT (Aged 17, English, centre-half) An athletic defender, Humphreys-Grant is another shining example of City’s growing emergence in academy circles. Could start should Nicolas Otamendi be rested. ANGELINO (Aged 19, Spanish, left-back) A late substitute in the 4-0 win at Aston Villa last month, the stocky defender bombs forward from the back and is tough in the tackle. MANU GARCIA (Aged 18, Spanish, attacking midfielder) Young star with an eye for goal, the 18-year-old is City’s great hope from the academy. Advertisement

Arriving from Stromsgodset at 15, Celina signed his first professional deal two years later, starring for Patrick Vieira's development side and catching Pellegrini's eye in the process. It hasn't always been plain sailing, however.

Celina and his family escaped war-torn Kosovo when he was just two, moving to Drammen in Norway. Thoughts of home were never too far away, though, and he made his debut for Kosovo at the age of 17.

He is, however, at the centre of an international tug of war, with Norway also keen on securing Celina's long-term future at international level. He has made once appearance for Norway's Under-21s but is leaning towards a future with Kosovo.



