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Wigan think the quality of Man City's team is so good that they want to field 14 players!

Wigan manager Paul Cook joked the club will ask the Football Association if they can field 14 players against Manchester City in next Monday's FA Cup tie.

He told reporters they are probably 'the best team in the world'.

Cook says he has no doubts about the quality of the side he will be facing. City have already been described as one of Premier League's greatest teams.

He said: "We're asking the FA for special dispensation to play 14 players.

"You have to be careful with what you say sometimes because all we can do is sit here and offer superlatives about what Man City are doing and how good they are.

Admitting they face an uphill struggle against the runaway Premier League leaders, who put four past Basel in the 1st round of the Champions Leage last-16 first leg game last night, he said: "The reality for us is we've got to try to beat them. With the best will in the world, everything that they do, every side that comes before them, they seem to put away quite comfortably."

(Image: PA)

The Latics, who famously lifted their only major trophy by upsetting City at Wembley in the 2013 FA Cup final, are on course to bounce back to the Sky Bet Championship after last season's relegation.

Paul Cook is aiming for immediate promotion back to the Championship, but is under no illusions of the size of the job waiting for him on Monday.

"It's hard, isn't it?" he said. "How can you say it's just a normal game when you're going to play possibly the best team in the world at the minute?

"It's going to be such a challenge for us all, for everybody connected with the club, because if you can't believe when you go into a tie that you can win it, then there's no point."

Wigan went 16 games unbeaten before following Saturday's loss at Southend with a 2-0 home defeat to Blackpool on Tuesday night. That knocked them off the top spot of League One for the first time since November. However, Cook insists his players have not been distracted by Premier League leaders City's impending visit.

"No, not at all," he said. "If you'd seen us play in both games, it was nothing to do with Man City.

"I don't think anything can be further from the truth. We've been on a fantastic run, we've just been 16 games unbeaten, I think we conceded one goal in eight or nine league games.

"Every good run comes to an end, no matter who you are. Unfortunately for us it's come in the week leading up to Man City, so people will say that.

"For us it's a massive challenge, not just to compete in the game, but can we actually take the game to Man City at times? Not many teams seem to be able to do that."