Crystal Palace captain Luka Milivojevic wants to avoid an FA Cup quarter-final with Manchester City as he attempts to lead the club back to Wembley.
Midfielder Milivojevic was the standout performer as Palace eased past League One Doncaster with Sunday’s 2-0 victory at the Keepmoat Stadium.
The Eagles reached the final of the competition in 2016 when they surrendered a late lead and suffered a 2-1 extra-time defeat to Manchester United.
Serbia international Milivojevic, who joined the following year from Greek side Olympiakos, is keen for Palace to return to the national stadium and feels dodging a tie with Premier League champions City could be key to that ambition.
“Our aim in the FA Cup is to try and get to the semi-final and then the final. It won’t be easy, there are a lot of good teams to play against,” the 27-year-old told Palace’s website.
“We don’t fear anyone of course but there is one team that you don’t want – Man City.
“But you never know. What happens in the draw will happen and we’re looking forward to the cup, of course.
“If we can repeat something of what we did a few years ago and play in a final, (that) would be great, but let’s go step by step.”
First-half goals from Jeffrey Schlupp and Max Meyer settled the televised fifth-round tie in South Yorkshire.
Roy Hodgson’s men will now turn their attentions back to staying in the top-flight.
Despite reaching the last eight of the cup competition and with a Wembley semi-final just one game away, Milivojevic insists the league is more important.
Palace currently sit three points and five places above the relegation zone.
“For me, the Premier League is the priority of course. It’s very tight down there,” he added.
“There are 10 or 11 games until the end of the season and many points are there.
“It’ll be tough, it’ll be hard, but that’s the priority.”
Palace manager Hodgson, who was pleased with the professionalism of his players against Doncaster, echoed that sentiment.
“Our priority and our focus still remains the same, that we would like to do well in the cup but we would like even more to stay in the Premier League,” he said.
“That always remains the priority.”
