MANCHESTER CITY’S FA Cup quarterfinal against Wigan has been pushed back to Mar 9 by broadcasters – just three days before they face the daunting task of trying to overcome a Champions League deficit away to Barcelona.
Today’s announcement by BT Sport will be a source of fresh frustration for City manager Manuel Pellegrini.
It follows the Chilean’s criticism of the performance of referee Jonas Eriksson after his side’s 2-0 defeat by Barca in the first leg of their last 16 tie at the Etihad Stadium yesterday.
Now, just three days before the return leg at the Nou Camp, City face holders Wigan in a repeat of the 2013 FA Cup final, with a 4:00pm local time (1600GMT) kickoff at the Etihad.
BT themselves acknowledged the problems they’d caused the Premier League title contenders by saying how the FA Cup tie “will fall just days before…the crucial second leg” with Spanish champions Barcelona.
City’s packed programme next month starts with the League Cup final against Sunderland at Wembley on Mar 2.
But following a match at home to Stoke this Saturday, City do not face another league fixture for three weeks because of commitments caused by still being in the hunt for four trophies this season.
