Date: January 11, 2026
Topic: FA Cup, Carabao Cup, Squad Rotation, Premier League
If you needed proof that the “Magic of the Cup” still has a wicked sense of humor in 2026, look no further than the stunned silence at the Leasing.com Stadium yesterday.
As we sit here on Sunday morning, January 11, the football world is still digesting the impossible: Crystal Palace, the reigning FA Cup holders, have been knocked out by sixth-tier Macclesfield FC.
The question on everyone’s lips isn’t just “How did that happen?” but rather, “Do Premier League teams actually care anymore?” The answer, as this weekend’s chaotic Third Round action proves, is complicated. It’s not about apathy; it’s about survival.
### The Cautionary Tale of Oliver Glasner
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner stood on the touchline yesterday looking like a man who had gambled the house and lost. Facing a National League North side, he opted for heavy rotation—a decision forced by a brutal injury list (Doucouré, Muñoz, Riad) and AFCON absences.
The result? A 2-1 defeat that will go down in history. Macclesfield, a club phoenix-risen from liquidation, didn’t just beat the holders; they outfought a Premier League “B-team” that looked disjointed and unprepared. When managers make “big team changes,” they walk a tightrope. Glasner fell off.
### When Depth Flexes: The City & Chelsea Contrast
On the flip side, we saw what happens when “big changes” are backed by a billion-pound academy and squad depth.
Manchester City didn’t just beat Exeter City; they dismantled them 10-1. It was a terrifying display of efficiency. Yes, Pep Guardiola rotated, but when your “rotation” options include a debut goal for $87m signing Antoine Semenyo, it’s hardly a weakened side. City treated the cup with the ruthless professionalism of a machine designed to win everything.
Meanwhile, Chelsea gave new manager Liam Rosenior the perfect welcome gift yesterday. In his first game in charge, Rosenior’s rotated side swept Charlton Athletic aside 5-1 at The Valley. It wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. Goals from Enzo Fernández, Pedro Neto, and youngster Marc Guiu showed that for teams with Chelsea’s resources, the “Second String” is still Champions League quality.
### The Carabao Cup Shadow
Context is everything. One reason we are seeing such drastic rotation this weekend is the looming Carabao Cup semi-finals, which kick off this coming week (w/c Jan 12).
Arsenal, who play Portsmouth later today, are expected to field a heavily rotated XI. Why? Because they have a massive London Derby semi-final against Chelsea just days away. Mikel Arteta has already hinted that “fringe players” like Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri will be crucial.
Remember, Arsenal only just scraped into the semis. Their Quarter-Final against Crystal Palace—played on the absurd date of December 23 due to fixture congestion—ended in a 1-1 stalemate, with Kepa Arrizabalaga (of all people) playing the hero in an 8-7 penalty shootout win. That grueling schedule is exactly why Arteta *must* rotate today. He isn’t disrespecting the FA Cup; he’s trying to keep his squad from collapsing before the semi-final.
### The “Congestion” Reality
The 2025/26 season has been defined by the Premier League’s warnings about fixture chaos. With nine English clubs in Europe and the expanded Champions League format, the calendar is at breaking point.
Teams aren’t “losing interest” in the cups. They are simply running out of healthy bodies. Newcastle United barely survived their tie yesterday, needing penalties to beat Bournemouth after a wild 3-3 draw. Everton weren’t so lucky, crashing out on penalties to Sunderland.
### The Verdict
So, are they interested? Absolutely. You don’t win 10-1 (City) or fight through a penalty shootout (Arsenal, Newcastle) if you don’t care.
But the Macclesfield shocker serves as a brutal reminder: The gap between a Premier League “Second XI” and a fired-up lower league side is closing. In 2026, you can’t just throw the kids on and expect to stroll into the Fourth Round.
As we look ahead to Man Utd vs Brighton and Arsenal vs Portsmouth today, expect more changes. But after yesterday, expect a lot more nerves, too. The Cup is alive and kicking—just ask Crystal Palace.