Sir Alex Ferguson's side have concentrated their firepower on bigger prizes since last lifting the FA Cup for a record 11th time in 2004 when they beat Millwall.
But knocking out the club who have won the FA Cup four times in the last six seasons - including the 2007 final when Chelsea beat United in the first final at the re-built Wembley Stadium - would be some consolation.
"We've still got an FA Cup tie and we're still in a commanding position in the league. So we'll get over it, we'll bounce back," United assistant manager Mike Phelan told the club's website after United's 2-1 home defeat by Real Madrid in which Nani was controversially sent off.
"We've had disappointments before and we'll get over this one. We'll come in [to training] and kick on.
"The players will rally round, the staff will rally round and we'll be Manchester United right the way through until the end of May."
Chelsea's interim manager Rafael Benitez caused a storm last week when he confirmed he was leaving in May and took a swipe at the board and the club's fans who continue to boo him with the Londoners sitting a perilous fourth in the Premier League table.
Considering they trail United by 12 points in the title race, champions Manchester City's best hope of salvaging silverware from a disappointing season is the FA Cup and a home game against Barnsley should represent a comfortable route into the semi-finals.
"We are only thinking of our FA Cup tie with Barnsley," he said. "I know nothing about them if I'm totally honest, but this week the boss and his backroom staff will give us the run-down on how they play.
"We certainly don't expect anything less than a tough 90 minutes."
