FA Cup - Managers: Pellegrini says 'tempo, not my tactics' the problem

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini (left) and Wigan Athletic manager Uwe Rosler shake hands after the game (PA Photos)

All the reaction from the weekend's FA Cup quarter-finals with Manuel Pellegrini refusing to blame his tactics for their shock defeat to Wigan.

Manuel Pellegrini: "I think it's the worst first half we've had in the year because we didn't have the pace to play against a team that is in a good moment. They won five games in a row so we knew before the match we are going to play a difficult team, maybe we thought that was not going to be so difficult and when we react it was too late. We knew exactly how Wigan play; it's not a tactical problem, it was a pace problem, a tempo problem. In the last 35 minutes they continue playing the same way and we continue playing the same way. We had at least three of four chances to score more goals. When you don't have the same intensity it's very difficult to win."

Uwe Rosler: "I started with Roberto's tactic from last season. I tried to replicate parts of it but bringing our own intensity in terms of our pressing, our counter-attacking and the willingness to attack with wing-backs at the far post - like the second goal. I felt first half we surprised Manchester City because a lot of teams show Manchester City, deservedly, a lot of respect. I felt if we sat back and just tried to defend and just hoping for the best we would have no chance."

Steve Bruce: "Managers, coaches and players come and go but the people you have got to be happy for is the supporters. It is quite remarkable that 1930 is the last time we were in a semi-final. I've said all along that it's sad that the FA Cup has lost a bit of the magic for whatever reason, but when you reach this stage it becomes exciting."

Gus Poyet: "We didn't create enough but I'm not going to try to find any excuses. The players who played today were not good enough and that is simple - in the 50-50s, in the diving, in dealing with the referee when he panicked for 10 minutes - in not recovering well and not creating one chance. If you hide and you're not in the game and do nothing to take a risk, then for sure you're not going to make any (mistakes). That's the bad side of football - the ones that take responsibility and the ones that care, they are the ones who are in the position to make the mistakes - that's football."