ANTONIO CONTE reckons the FA have done Manchester United a massive favor by shifting the sixth round showdown to tonight.
Conte has no plans to keep his big names in reserve either, despite having rotated his team in the earlier rounds.
Conte has no plans to keep his big names in reserve either, despite having rotated his team in the earlier rounds.
Mourinho will be without the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic as United aim to avenge the 4-0 Premier League at Stamford Bridge last October.
Even so, ‘The Special One’ says a place in the Champions League for the winner means the Europa League trumps the FA Cup.
Mourinho said: “Am I sadder to lose against Chelsea than against another team? No. Am I happier to win against Chelsea than another team? No.
“So for me it’s just a game that comes in the wrong moment for us, because the Europa League is a competition that can give us a Champions League spot - and the FA Cup can’t.
“So the Europa League is more important than the FA Cup for us.”
Barring a spectacular collapse Chelsea are set to romp the Premier League title race in Conte’s first season in charge.
But Mourinho reckons his full-time replacement at Chelsea has had an easier ride thanks to the lack of European football.
He said: “I know that he (Conte) said a couple of days ago or a couple of weeks ago that it’s not his fault that they are not in the European competitions - it’s my fault and the players’ fault.
“But the reality is they have time to work, time to rest, time to relax, time to disconnect, time to travel, time to have holidays, time to go and enjoy America for a couple of days.
“They have time for all of these things so they are in a position of privilege, the same privilege that Liverpool had a couple of years ago and they almost won the Premier League.
“I don’t want to say that they don’t deserve credit for it. They choose a certain style of play that I think is very adapted to the qualities of these players.
“They are doing very, very well and that is why they are going to be champions easily.
“I am not asking for any credit. I am focused on Manchester United.”