Manchester City vs Everton preview: Toffees may be more motivated to reach final, says Manuel Pellegrini

Everton requested an extra 1,300 tickers - on top of a 7,500 allocation

(Getty Images)

Manuel Pellegrini’s suggestion of resting senior Manchester City players and his claim that Everton may be “more motivated” for the Capital One Cup semi-final second leg was hardly the most convincing sales pitch to those supporters yet to purchase tickets for the tie at the Etihad Stadium.

With a Wembley final potentially just 90 minutes away, should City overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit against Roberto Martinez’s team, a strange sense of apathy hangs over the blue half of Manchester ahead of the game.

A double-page spread in Monday’s Manchester Evening News, urging City supporters to “Join The Party”, highlighted the club’s attempts to persuade supporters to turn out for the game, with several players also tweeting #takeustowembley in an effort to drive ticket sales.

Everton’s request for an additional 1,300 tickets, on top of the 7,500 allocation the Merseysiders have already sold, only served to strengthen Pellegrini’s suggestion that, 21 years since winning their last major trophy, Everton placed greater significance on the encounter than City.

But Pellegrini remained hopeful that City, having reduced prices to £20 for adults and £5 for concessions, will play in front of a passionate, full stadium of home supporters urging his team on for the victory they require. As of last night, City officials were hopeful of getting a crowd of around 48,000. Capacity is 55,000.

“Of course, it’s asking a lot of supporters to support every game,” Pellegrini said. “But normally here in England, the stadiums are always full for different reasons. I am sure that we’re going to have the support of the fans tonight, though. One of the most important things is the desire to play another final at Wembley and we must reflect that [in the performance]. That is the target – to arrive at the final.”

Sensing that Everton may be motivated by the backing of their travelling contingent, however, City even broadcast a video on their website of Sergio Aguero pleading with their own supporters to turn out.

“First of all, the stadium needs to be packed and the fans need to be behind us every step of the way, supporting us all the time, so Everton will feel the pressure,” Aguero said. “It’s very important for us that the crowd support us from the first minute, because we need them.”

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini (Getty Images)

The challenge for City and Pellegrini, who confirmed that goalkeeper Joe Hart would be rested in favour of Argentine understudy Willy Caballero, is to exploit the frailties that Everton have regularly exhibited in the Premier League this season. But in the third meeting of the two teams this month, Pellegrini admitted City would find it difficult to progress to Wembley.

“It is the third time we are going to play against Everton in one month, so we know a lot about their team, the way they play and the important players they have,” Pellegrini said. “But if you arrive at a semi-final, it’s important to play the final at Wembley.

“Maybe Everton will be more motivated because they have not been in the final for many years, but I’m sure our team will do all they can to reach the final.”