Chelsea vs Manchester City: Manuel Pellegrini gives kids a chance in Stamford Bridge gamble

The Chilean is aggrieved at the congested fixture list

Tosin Adarabioyo (Getty)

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has stuck by his claims he would field a weakened side for the trip to face Chelsea in the FA Cup fifth round.

The Chilean is aggrieved at the congested fixture list with Champions League, Premier League and Capital One Cup commitments to also contend with.

Little known Tosin Adarabioyo, Aleix García, Manu Garcia, Bersant Celina and David Faupala all feature from the start against a comparably more experienced starting line-up for the hosts.

Speaking in the week, the City manager said: “I think it’s not a real game, of course. I would not pay for the ticket.

“We told [the fans] one week ago that we are going to play with a young team. If the people want to continue going to the stadium, or Chelsea fans will enjoy that game, I don’t know.”

Chelsea, meanwhile, start with big-hitters Diego Costa, Eden Hazard, Willian and Pedro in attacking positions while Thibaut Courtois is in goal for the hosts.

Today’s line-ups..

Chelsea: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ivanovic, Baba Rahman; Fabregas, Mikel; Pedro, Willian, Hazard; Diego Costa.

Subs: Begovic, Miazga, Matic, Loftus-Cheek, Oscar, Traore, Remy.

Manchester City: Caballero, Zabaleta, Adarabioyo, Demichelis, Kolarov, Fernando, A.Garcia, M.Garcia, Celina, Iheanacho, Faupala.

Subs: Hart, Clichy, Humphreys, Kompany, Fernandinho, Barker, Sterling.