Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has said that he has few complaints after watching his side exit the FA Cup at the hands of Chelsea in the fifth round.
Pellegrini said that he was "forced" to name a weakened lineup that included five full debutants because of injuries and the fact that City must travel to Kiev for a Champions League tie on Wednesday before the League Cup final against Liverpool next weekend.
City went in level at the break after a first senior goal for David Faupala but then collapsed in the second half as Chelsea's full-strength side eased into the quarter-finals.
"I feel we had a very good 45 minutes but after the five minutes after half time we threw away the game," Pellegrini told BBC Sport. "There was a counter-attack and set pieces. Chelsea played well and scored the goals.
"We were forced to select that team, we couldn't play another day and didn't have any more fit players. We knew it was a difficult chance to carry on in the FA Cup. We cannot do anything more.
"If we play on Saturday, it is better for us, then we play in the Champions League for England. We have six players injured and cannot take any more risks. We played against a very good team and that's why they won."
Today's defeat means that City have lost three games in a row for the first time under Pellegrini.
Pascal Lemesre
