Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini criticised the Premier League scheduling system and the format of the FA Cup on as he looked ahead to Sunday's trip to Southampton. City will have just two clear days to recover before they go Madrid to take on Real in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final next Wednesday.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Manuel Pellegrini, Manchester City manager:(on Southampton)

"Well, I think that Southampton is not just only Ronald Koeman, before that it was (Mauricio) Pochettino, so the team in the last four years, at least the last three years I have been in England, they have done very well. They have very good players, they sold this season a lot of players so that it is to the merit of Ronald Koeman to keep the team in a good position and well, I think that they are a team that also plays football. they have a good side."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Manuel Pellegrini, Manchester City manager:(on the possibility of finishing second in the Premier League table)

"I said the same answer to that question when we were able to fight for the title. I have always said, that if mathematically you have the chance to be near the top of the table, you must try to get as close as you can. Of course, we don't depend on just what we can do, because Tottenham are five points in front of us. they have a difficult fixture, we also have a difficult fixture, but our mind is exactly the same, to continue winning all of our games, to have a spot in the Champions League next year and to be as near to the top of the table as we can."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Manuel Pellegrini, Manchester City manager:(on the Premier League schedule making it even harder for City to be at their best for the second leg of the Champions League semi-final next week)

"I don't understand why when having so many games, and they all have the same interest, that we can't play one day before, to have 24 hours (more rest), at least having the same as Real Madrid. But why? It really is not my answer to say. Because maybe there are lots of things about TV rights to make that decision, so I don't know it."