Jose Mourinho admits he 'threw away' Chelsea's FA Cup hopes in 2005 and vows to respect competition at Manchester United

Jose Mourinho admits he 'threw away' Chelsea's FA Cup hopes in 2005 and has vowed to take the competition seriously at Manchester United.

Mouirnho won the FA Cup once in his first spell at Stamford Bridge, but has admitted he was guilty of prioritising other competitions during his first season in England.

Mourinho fielded a weakened team away at Newcastle in the fifth round with one eye on a Champions League double-header against Barcelona and League Cup final against Liverpool.

Chelsea won the League Cup a week after their defeat at St. James and beat Barca to progress to the last eight of the Champions League nine days after their Wembley success.

But Mourinho regrets his decision to call upon fringe players at Newcastle.

"I gambled too much, I focused too much on Barcelona and Liverpool," he said.

"It was good because we beat Barcelona and we won the final against Liverpool, but the feeling I threw it away was not good, so I don't throw it away.

"If I lose, I lose because the opponent was better or because we didn't play well, but I'm not going to throw it away."

Holders Manchester United visit Blackburn on Sunday and Mourinho has said he won't make wholesale changes for the trip.

"I'm going to Blackburn with that respect," he added. "I go serious.

"I am going to change a few players, but am going with a good team because I respect the competition a lot and Manchester United demands that you go serious to every game."