Date at Wembley is all the motivation Manchester City need, says Roberto Mancini

Roberto Mancini is hoping to do better than on his last return to the spiritual home of English football when his Manchester City side face Reading in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Roberto Mancini believes the chance to make up for Thursday's defeat in the Ukraine and the lure of Wembley Stadium will be the motivating factors for his Manchester City team at Eastlands today.

Reading, the Championship side, are the visitors in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, a tournament in which City have not reached the last four for 30 years.

Mancini's side have a chance of ending a barren run that last saw them win a major trophy in 1976 (League Cup) on two fronts, although they have a two-goal deficit against Dynamo Kiev to overturn in the Europa League next week after losing in the Ukraine on Thursday.

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"It won't be hard to pick [the players] up because the FA Cup is really important to us," said Mancini. "It's a really big chance for us to get to Wembley. When you lose a game, you want to play the day after.

"We know how long it's been since the last semi-final so this would be good for us, good for the club and the fans."

Mancini had a taste of playing at Wembley Stadium as a player.

"I've only played there once," said the Italian manager. "That was in the European Cup final in 1992 for Sampdoria against Barcelona. It was not a good experience. [The Italian side lost 1-0.] I would really like something more memorable at Wembley."

Reading have already beaten Premier League sides West Bromwich Albion and Everton this season and captain Matt Mills believes his side have the ability to make City their third top-flight victim.

Mills hopes to shake off a groin injury to face his former club. He said: "City have got quality in their squad. But you have to remember it is only 11 against 11 and there are always upsets in football. Birmingham beat Arsenal a few weeks ago to win the Carling Cup, you never know."

Reading's greatest threat is likely to come from Shane Long, the Irish striker who has scored 20 goals already this season.

His partner, Noel Hunt, said: "Shane is the best striker in the Championship by a mile. There is no debating that. He has got 20 goals already this season and even Kevin Doyle [now at Wolves] didn't do that in this league for us."

8.45pm, Aljazeera Sport +3