It was a matter of priorities – Pell

MANCHESTER City travelled to the Ukraine today with manager Manuel Pellegrini hoping his controversial FA Cup selection pays dividends "for England" in the Champions League tie with Dynamo Kiev.

City made nine changes and fielded six teenagers – five of them making their full debuts – in yesterday’s 5–1 defeat at Chelsea, who next play Everton in the quarter–finals.

Pellegrini's men face Dynamo in the Champions League last–16 first leg on Wednesday and take on Liverpool in the Capital One Cup final on Sunday, so the City boss delivered on his promise to make wholesale changes.

"We are forced to do it," he said on BBC1, adding: "I think that if we play on Saturday it's better for us because we have to play for England in the Champions League."

Pellegrini denied disrespecting the FA Cup. "If one team respects all the cups, it's this team," the Chilean added. "That's why we are in the final of the Capital One Cup, that's why we won the two previous games in this cup.

“At Chelsea we couldn't because I think we have more important things at this moment. We have at this moment seven players injured. It's impossible for us to take the risk to play in both competitions. We have an option for the first time in our club to try to reach the quarter–final of the Champions League.”