Get the day's biggest City stories delivered straight to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Manuel Pellegrini insists he will play a weakened team in the FA Cup if Manchester City are forced to play their fifth-round tie with Chelsea on the Sunday before their Champions League clash with Dynamo Kiev.

City have been told that their game at Stamford Bridge will be played on Sunday, February 21.

With Pellegrini’s quadruple-chasing squad heading to the Ukraine the next day, the Chilean has warned that he will be forced to play a shadow team.

He said: “I am very worried for a lot of things.

“If we have to play Chelsea Sunday, we will play with a young team because we have to travel to Ukraine.

“I don’t see why I can’t play Saturday.

“If we have to play Sunday, we will see which players we have to play.”

The game against Chelsea will come at a potentially pivotal period for City, who also play Liverpool in the Capital One Cup final a week later.

Friday would have been another option, but it is understood it is too late to change television schedules.

Pellegrini have never fielded a weakened team in the FA Cup before, but says he will be left with no option.

“I must do what is better for the club,” he said. “I think it is better to play the strongest team in the Champions League.

MORE:

“If you continue in the FA Cup you have have to postpone games.

“We will see which day we are going to play the FA Cup. Before that we have to play Leicester and Tottenham - two teams fighting for the title.”