Quadruple-chasers City will not alter their tactics for Chelsea’s second visit within a fortnight.
Man City boss Manuel Pellegrini has declared he will prove his tactics were not to fault for the 1-0 loss against Chelsea – by playing the same way in today’s FA Cup fifth round clash.
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Jose Mourinho was hailed as a tactical genius after Chelsea ended City’s 100% home record with a calculated win at the Etihad Stadium earlier this month.
The Portuguese deployed Nemanja Matic and David Luiz as holding midfielders and stifled the hosts whilst hitting them on a series of lightning breaks.
The West London outfit visit City again in Saturday’s FA Cup and it is expected to be more of the same from Mourinho.
But Pellegrini has insisted he will not alter his tactics for the match and believes there will be a different outcome this time around.
“Why?,” responded the Chilean, when asked if why he would play the same way. “Because I am absolutely sure that in the previous game it was not a problem with tactics.
“The squad had a lot of changes and we had three or four clear chances before they scored. If we’d scored, we could have scored again. The goal they got, he [Branislav Ivanovic] does not find it easy to shoot with his left foot – but he did it in that game.
“If we’d scored first, the result could have been different but the tactics would have been the same.
“Chelsea had a shot from Matic and a header against the post from Cahill. But they didn’t have any more chances in the second-half. In the first-half they had one, when we missed a pass, which resulted in a counter-attack, and they scored the goal they got.
“It was because we made a mistake with a pass. We were not in order. But I don’t have any concerns, we had 64 per cent possession against Chelsea. We know exactly the way Chelsea attack and the way they defend. I think it’s more important for me if we score goals.
“I will continue to think exactly in the same way – it’s important to score and defend well.”
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