Manchester City to prioritise Champions League over FA Cup

Pellegrini sees European glory more important than cup success

Manuel Pellegrini (GETTY IMAGES)

Manchester City are set to prioritise the Champions League over the FA Cup, according to boss Manuel Pellegrini, as the club face the reality of challenging for silverware on four fronts.

City have a busy run of fixtures coming up, with Sunday's FA Cup tie against Chelsea followed by a last-16 Champions League tie against Dynamo Kiev on Wednesday and the Capital One Cup final four days after that.

Pellegrini said: "The priority is always the next game, but we must make an exception because of many injuries."

While the Chilean is set to leave the club at the end of the season, he could still go out with a bang, with four possible trophies to be won. However the downside of that sees City having to play a game in each competition in just 11 days between 21 February and 2 March.

"We have just 13 players available to play and have to play the Champions League on Wednesday. We'll see the best team we can play on Sunday," said Pellegrni.

"I always try to play with a strong team in every competition. They are all important but we must prioritise the Champions League."

However for Chelsea, their opponents on Sunday, who are realistically only in the hunt for two trophies, things are much simpler.

Interim manager Guus Hiddink said: "We have a serious approach to the FA Cup."