FA Cup: Chelsea v Manchester United preview

Chelsea v Manchester United preview

Zlatan Ibrahimovic begins a three-match domestic ban when Manchester United face Chelsea in Monday's FA Cup quarter-final.

The 35-year-old, who assisted United's goal in their 1-1 Europa League draw against Rostov on Thursday, received the suspension after the FA took retrospective action for his elbow on Tyrone Mings against Bournemouth.

Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte, meanwhile, refuses to be distracted by the mind games deployed by managerial rivals including Jose Mourinho, saying talking does not win games.

Conte said: "I'm very focused on the pitch. The mind games don't bring you to win, above all if you face a team who is focused."

The Blues will have had a full week of rest by kick-off on Monday night, while Mourinho could make changes with the match falling in between the two legs of their Europa League last-16 tie.

 

Conte has a fully-fit squad and is considering his options for the match.

Chelsea captain John Terry has played in the three prior FA Cup rounds, but the defender's place against United is not guaranteed. And with Chelsea next in action at Stoke five days later, Conte could field his first-choice line-up.

 

Ibrahimovic is suspended while Luke Shaw and Wayne Rooney, who were both left out of the Europa League squad in Rostov, come back into contention.

Eric Bailly could also feature after serving a European suspension in Russia, where United emerged unscathed despite concerns over the pitch. Bastian Schweinsteiger remains a doubt with an unspecified complaint.