Chelsea vs Manchester City: Fear of no silverware is motivating Blues, Branislav Ivanovic warns City

Exclusive: Defender is extra-motivated to get it right in the Cup after a season of despair
Cup dream: Branislav Ivanovic has set his sights on the FA Cup
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Simon Johnson19 February 2016

Branislav Ivanovic has suffered many lows for Chelsea this season but it’s what he could face in the summer that worries him the most.

Ivanovic has spent most of his career at Stamford Bridge with something to celebrate during his holidays.

Eight major trophies in as many years is a healthy return, yet it is the odd occasion where the campaign has not ended in glory that has proved hard to forget. It has happened only three times — 2008, 2011 and 2014 — and he’s not willing to experience another disappointment quite so soon.

Opportunities to avoid being left empty handed are running out, however. The Blues’ title bid stalled months ago and they were knocked out of the Capital One Cup in the fourth round.

Chelsea also face a difficult task to reach the Champions League quarter-finals despite an encouraging display during the 2-1 defeat against Paris St Germain in the first leg on Tuesday.

So it’s no wonder Ivanovic is looking forward to the FA Cup fifth-round tie against Manchester City on Sunday with even more relish.

He told Standard Sport: “It is not a nice feeling when you end the season without a trophy and the memory of that will spur me on against City.

“Chelsea are used to picking up silverware so when you don’t, you use it as extra motivation to make sure it doesn’t happen again. With each trophy you win, you just want more. We hope we will still get to experience a special feeling in May.”

It wasn’t long ago that Chelsea’s place in the final at Wembley seemed assured. Four victories in six years meant they dominated the competition between 2007-12.

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The national stadium even started to be regarded by the club’s fans as their second home but they have not been back there for the showpiece occasion since.

Ivanovic, 31, added: “The FA Cup is a special trophy for Chelsea.

“We had a great record in the competition a few years ago and I have won it myself three times but the last one was back in 2012. No one at Chelsea is happy with how things have gone this season. It has been difficult for us.

“But the positive thing is the season still isn’t finished. We have to take every opportunity we can and we have a chance to win the FA Cup again.

“I have been at Chelsea a long time and really got to appreciate what the FA Cup means to everybody here, the club, the supporters.

“It is a massive competition and I love the way how every team approaches the games. This spirit comes from the small teams and when you play sides in the lower divisions, you see even more how important it is to everyone in English football. We always take the competition seriously and pick a strong team, whoever is in charge.

“It is a big game against Manchester City and we can’t wait. We have to be tough, go step by step and hopefully have something to celebrate in May.”

With first-choice captain John Terry, who is out of contract in the summer, struggling to recover from a hamstring injury, the Serbia international is taking on even more responsibility for results on the pitch.

He is given the armband in Terry’s absence and does not want to let his team-mate down in case it’s his last season at the club.

“I certainly don’t want us to go out of the cups while John is injured,” he admitted. “Every Chelsea player is thinking like that. John is very important to us. We don’t know what is going to happen regarding his future, we hope the club and John find a way for everyone to be happy.

“As far as I’m concerned, I am just keeping the armband warm for John. He is the captain and I am just filling in while he is injured. I hope, and everyone does, that he will be back soon.

“He stayed behind in London during the week to help his recovery and we are hoping to get some positive news.

“Of course it is very important for us to have him on the pitch. It is an honour to be captain but everyone knows John’s qualities as a leader.”

City are one of the reasons why Chelsea have not lifted the FA Cup recently, beating them in the semi-final in 2013 and the fifth round a year later.

This tie provides a great opportunity for some revenge, especially as Manuel Pellegrini’s men are reeling from losing two crucial matches against their Premier League title rivals.

Ivanovic is not reading too much into their supposed lack of form and said: “The League is very competitive and difficult to win. Obviously you just have to see what has happened to us this season. Every team has been up and down, not just City. But we are not thinking about them, we are just focusing on ourselves.”

And that will be a much more enjoyable thing to do during the close season if Ivanovic has another winners’ medal in his pocket.

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