Maurizio Sarri will name a strong Chelsea line-up for Monday’s FA Cup fifth round clash against Manchester United, which comes with the Italian under serious pressure.Thursday’s Europa League defeat of Malmo did little to stabilise Sarri’s position at Stamford Bridge despite it ending a run of four successive away losses, including last weekend’s humbling by Manchester City.
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Both clubs have different managers in the dugout now than they did that May evening, with Antonio Conte leaving Chelsea a couple of months after the Wembley showpiece and Jose Mourinho losing his job in December.Ole Gunnar Solskjaer replaced Mourinho on an interim basis and guided United to an 11-match unbeaten run, though that came to an end earlier this week when PSG rocked up at Old Trafford and won 2-0 in the Champions League round of 16. Nonetheless, many United fans consider the FA Cup a real chance of silverware and progressing past Chelsea would knock another top six team out the competition with Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool already gone.A similar thought will be in Sarri’s mind as he hopes to ease the pressure on him by claiming a first ever trophy in professional football, and the Italian will play a strong team on Monday night rather than risk Chelsea’s progression by rotating for the cup.Gianfranco Zola, who was taking Friday’s press conference in Sarri’s stead, explained: “We are going to have to assess a few players, Ruben Loftus-Cheek might be available.
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FRIDAY 15TH FEBRUARY19:45 QPR v Watford talkSPORTSATURDAY 16TH FEBRUARY12:30 Brighton v Derby talkSPORT15:00 AFC Wimbledon v Millwall talkSPORT17:30 Newport County v Manchester City talkSPORTSUNDAY 17TH FEBRUARY13:00 Bristol City v Wolves talkSPORT16:00 Doncaster Rovers v Crystal Palace talkSPORT“But it is the fifth round of the FA Cup, we want to win and it will be a strong team. We havent made a full consideration yet. It is only Friday.”Zola also commented on United’s return to form under Solskjaer, with the Red Devils rising into the Premier League’s top four at Chelsea’s expense since he was hired.“I am pleased,” the Italian continued. “I know Ole as we did the course together and I am pleased to see him do well.
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