United target Chelsea for redemption

Manchester United will aim to vent their feelings of injustice on holders Chelsea in the FA Cup this weekend after a controversial Champions League exit against Real Madrid on Tuesday torched their hopes of a treble.

 

Alex Ferguson’s side have concentrated their firepower on bigger prizes since last lifting the FA Cup for a record 11th time in 2004 when they beat Millwall.

 

But knocking out the club who have won the FA Cup four times in the last six seasons – including the 2007 final when Chelsea beat United in the first final at the re-built Wembley Stadium – would be some consolation.

 

The clash at Old Trafford is the standout match of the quarterfinals which also features the all-Premier League tie between Everton and Wigan Athletic.

 

Manchester City, the 2011 winners, face 1912 winners Barnsley of the Championship and in an all-Championship tie Millwall meet Blackburn Rovers, who knocked out Arsenal in the last round.

 

“We’ve still got an FA Cup tie and we’re still in a commanding position in the league. So we’ll get over it, we’ll bounce back,” United assistant manager Mike Phelan told the club’s website after United’s 2-1 home defeat by Real Madrid in which Nani was controversially sent off.

 

“We’ve had disappointments before and we’ll get over this one. We’ll come in (to training) and kick on.

 

“The players will rally round, the staff will rally round and we’ll be Manchester United right the way through until the end of May.”