We were complacent and lacked pace, says Pellegrini after City's embarrassing Cup exit

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini accused his players of complacency after they crashed out of the FA Cup to Wigan.

For the second time in less than a year, City were humbled by Wigan as the Championship side followed up last season’s victory in the final with another shock, triumphing 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium.

On a day when Nigel Clough’s Sheffield United and Steve Bruce’s Hull also qualified for the FA Cup semi-finals, Pellegrini said: Maybe we thought it wouldn’t be so difficult and by the time we reacted it was too late. I think the first half was the worst of my time here.

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Embarrassed: Manuel Pellegrini said his Manchester City side were complacent against Wigan

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Dream: Wigan fans celebrate their 2-1 win at the Etihad and a place in the FA Cup semi-finals

 

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‘We didn’t have the pace to keep up with a team that is in a good moment. 

‘In the last 35 minutes they continue playing the same way and we continue playing the same way. We had at least three or four chances to score more goals.

‘When you don’t have the same intensity it’s very difficult to win.’

Wigan now face Arsenal in their semi-final at Wembley next month. 

Goals from Jordi Gomez and James Perch put them 2-0 up and they hung on grimly after Samir Nasri had scored for City with 22 minutes left.

Wigan manager Uwe Rosler —  a former City striker — hailed the victory as the greatest of his career in management. He said: ‘We have not won here by parking the bus. If we had come here to hang on we would have had no chance. We had to be brave and try to play and that’s what we did.

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Lead: James Perch celebrates after scoring Wigan's second goal at the Etihad

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Pride: Wigan manager Uwe Rosler labelled this as his biggest ever achievement

‘This is my biggest achievement as a manager. Last season it was an incredible achievement for this club to win a Wembley final and now this is another incredible achievement.

‘City have always been very respectful to me and I tried to be the same by not celebrating at the end. I just shook hands and walked in.’ 

City now travel to Spain to try to overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit in the Champions League last 16 against Barcelona on Wednesday.

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Cavalry: Pellegrini rang the changes with three substitutions, but City couldn't drag themselves level

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Dejected: Edin Dzeko reacts after a missed chance that would have drawn Manchester City level