Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini insists the FA Cup is of huge importance to his side as they prepare to face Chelsea at Wembley in Sunday’s semi-final.
Mancini ended the Citizens’ 35-year trophy drought when he led them to FA Cup success by beating Stoke City in the 2011 final.
But the Italian – who does not believe Chelsea’s victory over Rubin Kazan in Russia last night will have a bearing on the game – knows his side must be on top form to reach another final.
“We are looking forward to the challenge and to playing at Wembley,” he said. “This is a very important competition for us and we want to win it.
“Chelsea will be difficult and they are playing well at the moment so we know we will have to play our best to win this game.
“They will probably have three or four of the team that started the Europa League game but they rested five or six players so they won’t be tired.”
City – who beat FA Cup holders Chelsea at Villa Park in August’s Community Shield clash – may be without Spanish star David Silva on Sunday however.
The tricky playmaker was taken off towards the end of Monday night’s Manchester derby victory at Old Trafford with a tight hamstring.
And Mancini – who could welcome Monday’s match-winner Sergio Aguero back to the starting line-up – admitted it was touch-and-go with Silva’s fitness.
“We will decide on Sunday morning on David,” he said.
“We don’t know if it’s possible for him to play or whether it might be a risk if he does. He has a chance, but I don’t think he can recover fully.
“He may be able to play some part, but we will make a final decision as late as possible.
“Sergio is probably not 100 per cent but for us at 80 per cent he is still important.
“I am happy because he had a good impact in the game on Monday night and it is important he didn’t have any problems in his knee.”
Picture courtesy of mcfc, via YouTube, with thanks.
For more on this story and many others, follow Mancunian Matters on Twitter and Facebook.
