Mancini rues cup schedule

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini (pictured) plans to change his entire team tonight, having been angered by the scheduling of their Carling Cup trip to Arsenal.

City take on the Gunners in the quarter–finals of the competition this evening around 50 hours after a draining Barclays Premier League clash at Liverpool ended.

Mancini believes that places an unfair burden on his players and feels he has no choice but to make wholesale changes. He even claims he could field junior team players if the situation arises again.

The Italian said: "We will change all the team because this is an incredible situation.

"To play in two days two games like this, after a Champions League game, is incredible. I think the players should say something about this. For the players it is important to play, but it is important also to recover, a minimum three days between one game and another."

Mancini's comments echo similar sentiments expressed by Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish, who must also prepare a side to play at Chelsea in the Carling Cup tonight.

Mancini said: "I agree with him. I think sometimes we should play with 11 young players, 14–15 years. It is not correct this, not only for us but all the players."

Mancini would have been forced to leave out Gareth Barry and Mario Balotelli for the trip to the Emirates Stadium anyway with both now serving a one–game ban.

Former England midfielder Owen Hargreaves, fit again after a minor calf injury, is likely to feature.

Defenders Kolo Toure and Stefan Savic could come in while little–used former England left–back Wayne Bridge might get a run–out.

Joe Hart's back–up Costel Pantilimon is likely to play in goal while Denis Suarez and Karim Rekik, who have been involved in previous rounds, could get chances.