Roberto Mancini blasts league schedule

Roberto Mancini has voiced his displeasure at having to face Arsenal in the Carling Cup tonight just 48 hours after Manchester City's 1-1 draw with Liverpool on Sunday.

Mancini also said that he believes the tough schedule of top stars may be the reason for England's lack of success on the international stage.

"On Monday we go to London and we'll change all the team because this is an incredible situation," the City boss said. "Arsenal played on Saturday, we play Sunday evening. On Monday we travel to London and play Tuesday night. Incredible. This is the reason why the national team arrive for European Championship finals and World Cups and they are dying.

"The players don't have time to recover. To play again in two days like this, so soon after the Champions League is incredible.

"I don't know who to blame. The Premier League should have said something about this. It's important to play but it's also important to recover. You need three days between one game and another."

Mancini also said that he was considering fielding a young team to make a statement.

"It's a quarter-final. We should play with 11 young players. Maybe 14 or 15 years old," Mancini said.

"To make a statement? Yes, because it's not correct. Not so much for us but for the players. It's not right. We'll have the same at the start of January when we play Sunderland then Liverpool in two days.

"Liverpool play three days before us. Is this correct? I don't think so."

Along with youngsters such as Abdul Razak and Denis Suarez, Owen Hargreaves could feature in tonight's quarter-final.