CHELSEA 5, MANCHESTER CITY 1 (FA CUP 5TH ROUND)
Manchester City’s quest for the quadruple came to an end at Stamford Bridge after defeat in the FA Cup when City boss Manuel Pellegrini followed through with his promise to field youngsters from the Elite Development Squad due to fixture congestion.
Suffering his third defeat in a row for the first time as City manager, Pellegrini would happily accept an FA Cup exit in exchange for a commanding first leg lead in the Champions League against Dynamo Kiev in Ukraine on Wednesday followed by lifting the Capital One Cup at Wembley next Sunday against Liverpool.
The Chilean had made no secret of his preference to play on Saturday but acknowledged that TV scheduling and the FA had forced his team choice.
He said: “We were forced to select that team, we couldn’t play another day and didn’t have any more fit players. We knew it was a difficult chance to carry on in the FA Cup. We cannot do anything more.
“If we play on Saturday, it is better for us, then we play in the Champions League for England. We have six players injured and cannot take any more risks. We played against a very good team and that’s why they won.”
Pellegrini praised his team’s performance on the day but recognised that the more experienced Chelsea side were more clinical on the day.
“I feel that we made a very good 45 minutes and equalised the game but after that in five minutes we threw away the game.
“There was a counter-attack and set-pieces. Chelsea played well and scored the goals.”
City’s team was much changed for the visit to Stamford Bridge. Nine changes meant that only Pablo Zabaleta and Fernando kept their places as they were joined by Willy Caballero, Tosin Adarabioyo, Martin Demichelis, Aleksandar Kolarov, Manu Garcia, Aleix Garcia, Bersant Celina, Kelechi Iheanacho and David Faupala.
In fact, City’s makeshift team contained six teenagers, four players in their 30s, and only one player in his 20s – Fernando (28).
Handing five youngsters their first Manchester City starts at Stamford Bridge might have been seen as a recipe for disaster and showing disrespect for the FA Cup but it was two of City’s senior players who let the side down after a promising first half in which Chelsea were kept at bay.
City’s young team were driven by the fearless youngsters who gave Chelsea a test in the first half with fine performances by Tosin Adarabioyo in central defence, Manu Garcia in midfield, and David Faupala up front with Kelechi Iheanacho.
City, however, did cede possession and the first goal to Chelsea in the 35th minute after Cesc Fabregas was afforded too much freedom in midfield.
Diego Costa’s flying header from five yards out opened the scoring after he met Eden Hazard’s byline cutback following Fabregas’ through ball for his 13th goal of the season.
At that point it seemed like men against boys as the team sheet suggested before the game.
City, however, reacted to that setback swiftly and were level 94 seconds later through debutant David Faupala, 19, after he received a pass from Manu Garcia, exchanged passes with Kelechi Iheanacho, and forced Cesar Azpilicueta’s attempted clearance back into the empty Chelsea net.
Faupala had been a lively forward alongside Iheanacho and had shown some early promise when weaving past experience Chelsea defenders Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic but he couldn’t beat Thibaut Courtois early on.
Willy Caballero kept the scores level at half time with a point blank save from Pedro as Chelsea tried to make the most of the space they were finding against City’s 4-4-2 formation.
All the good work of the first half was undone in five second half minutes shortly after the restart as the unchanged Chelsea side asserted their control after the break.
Chelsea hit City on the break soon after the restart and retook the lead after just 48 minutes through Willian, while Caballero could have done better with Gary Cahill’s straight shot after Fernando’s poor clearance fell to the Chelsea defender five minutes later.
Cabellero was at fault again midway through the second half when a tired foul by Martin Demichelis allowed Eden Hazard to score a free kick which the Argentine was poorly positioned to see.
The second string City ‘keeper at least made sure justice was done when he saved an Oscar penalty after Demichelis was harshly adjudged to have fouled Bertrand Traore in the area.
Brandon Barker made his City debut in the second half, the fourth youngster to do so on the day, and Cameron Humphreys also got on the pitch but by then the game was drifting away from City with Courtois untested until the 87th minute when he dived to keep out a Kolarov shot.
But it was Chelsea who had the final say when Traore’s looping header went in over Caballero to make it 5-1.
The scoreline might have been even harsher on City’s makeshift side, but the future for some of City’s youngsters could be bright next season.