Manuel Pellegrini will rotate Manchester City squad to face Stoke City

Manuel Pellegrini will rotate the squad for this Saturday. But not really. But he will. But maybe not.

The Manchester City manager spoke to the media about his selection for the starting lineup in this Saturday's key Premier League match against Stoke City just three days away from the giant Champions League semifinal against Real Madrid.

In a season filled with injuries, the Chilean boss finally has a healthy group to choose from, which gives him various possibilities to rotate the team and save his key starters for the Madrid clash. But he's not overlooking Stoke, and will send his best possible starting eleven to the pitch.

"It's a very important game. We are involved in the semi-final of the Champions League, but that doesn't mean we are not worried about the Premier League.

"It was exactly the same against Paris Saint-Germain when we played the quarter-final. We had two important Premier League games and I said in that moment the best way to prepare is to win your next game.

"So, the best way to prepare for Tuesday is to try to beat Stoke, keep a clean sheet, try to score goals and play well. That will help a lot.

"You always have risk of an injury but for big teams you cannot choose one competition. It is very important to reach as near to the top of the table as we can and try to beat Real Madrid.

"Without the final we need to play eight games in 30 days. If we continue with the same players maybe for the last two or three games you are not going to be with energy, so it's important to make some rotation. But it's important not to take the whole team out waiting for the game on Tuesday."

Pellegrini, source: Sky Sports

Does sound like he's rotating, doesn't it?