Rivals ‘rooting’ for City to lift FA Cup

Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham may be praying that rivals Manchester City win the FA Cup because of the potential implications it could have on their summer.

Pep Guardiola’s side squeezed into the semi-finals of the competition with a dramatic comeback against Swansea on Saturday and will now play Brighton for a place in the final.

As City continue their pursuit of a unprecedented quadruple, their biggest rivals will be hoping that they can win the FA Cup.

That is because if Sergio Aguero and Co do not win the FA Cup it will mean the team that finishes sixth in the Premier League will begin next season’s Europa League in the second qualifying round.

Beginning their continental campaign at that stage will mean playing qualification matches from July 25, leaving a team’s pre-season preparations in disarray and an extremely heavy workload so early in the campaign.

Arsenal, Chelsea, United and Tottenham are currently embroiled in a four-way battle for two places in the Premier League’s top four with two set to miss out.

Spurs are currently in third place on 61 points with north London rivals Arsenal just a point behind in fourth.

The Gunners are two clear of fifth-placed United while Chelsea’s defeat at Everton on Sunday has left them three points behind Unai Emery’s side.