Wigan Athletic’s trip to the Etihad Stadium is not an FA Cup final dress rehearsal, according Manchester City assistant manager David Platt.
The two sides – who meet on Wednesday night – set up next month’s Wembley clash with semi-final wins at the weekend.
And Platt is expecting Wigan, who sit 18th in the Premier League, to be fully focussed on causing an upset.
“It is not a case of because we are playing them tonight we will know how to play them in the cup final,” he said.
“I don’t think it has any correlation whatsoever. Each team has four or five games before then.
“I am sure they are looking at the next four or five games and thinking, ‘If we can get away from that relegation threat then we can enjoy the day’.
“It doesn’t take the shine off the day but retaining Premier League status for them is paramount.
“I am sure if they have it in the bag by then they will be delighted and they can go and enjoy a Wembley cup final.”
Wigan produced a dramatic run of form at the end of last season to clinch top-flight survival, beating Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United.
And Platt is well aware of what Roberto Martinez’s side are capable of when their Premier League status is on the line.
“The last six weeks of the season, form seems to go out of the window,” he added.
“Inevitably, if you are down there and have done it year on year as Roberto seems to have done then you have that experience to take teams through.
“I think you see it not just with Wigan. It is very dangerous to try and predict the three teams who will get relegated, in February.”
City manager Roberto Mancini is unlikely to risk playmaker David Silva, who missed Sunday’s semi-final with a hamstring injury.
Image courtesy of mcfc, via YouTube, with thanks.
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