LONDON – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola lashed out at the FA Cup schedule after his side beat Chelsea 1-0 to reach the final on April 20, three days after their treble bid was ended by defeat on penalties by Real Madrid in the Champions League.
A late goal by Bernardo Silva got holders City over the line, although they rode their luck against a Chelsea side who were punished for not taking the numerous chances they created.
Silva side-footed home in the 84th minute after Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic parried a Kevin de Bruyne shot.
The Portuguese, who missed a penalty in the shoot-out defeat at home to Real, said he was “very happy after a very frustrating week for all of us, for me personally”.
“The good thing is in football, if you play at Man City, you play every three days, so after two to three days, you have a chance for a bit of revenge and to put things right.”
City, who were without fatigued striker Erling Haaland, lacked their usual zip and, despite reaching another final, Guardiola was clearly agitated at his side’s lack of recovery time after the heartache of the Champions League exit on April 17.
“It’s unacceptable to let us play today,” Guardiola said. “It’s impossible, for the health of the players. It’s not normal. It’s unacceptable – 120 minutes, the emotions of Madrid, the way we lose, honestly.
“I know this country is special (with the FA Cup) but it’s for the health of the players. I don’t understand how we survived today.”
He could not fathom why City's game against Chelsea was not scheduled for April 21 rather than Manchester United's semi-final clash with second-tier Coventry City, neither of whom had to play a match in midweek.
“The only power I have I say here. Why don’t we play tomorrow? Chelsea, Manchester United, Coventry didn’t play midweek,” the Spaniard said.
“Mentally so tough to recover. Rodri, the way he played today, Kyle (Walker), who was injured for a few weeks, I don’t understand how they survived.
“We want to play football, we love to play football, but it’s too much. We defend our trophy. We’ll be here.”
The exit to Real ended City's hopes of a second straight treble, although they are still in the hunt for an English Premier League and FA Cup double.
Chelsea, whose last visit to Wembley ended in League Cup final defeat by a late Liverpool goal in extra time in February, squandered some of the best chances.
Senegalese Nicolas Jackson was particularly profligate.
He had the first shot on target in the eighth minute but it was easily collected by Stefan Ortega in the City goal. Early in the second half, Jackson had two chances to put the ball away but Ortega intercepted both.
There were also opportunities for 21-year-old former City attacker Cole Palmer, who scored four goals against Everton in the league on April 15, and for Noni Madueke.
A last-gasp free kick from substitute Mykhailo Mudryk sailed over the bar, while Chelsea also had a penalty appeal turned down when Palmer’s free kick struck Jack Grealish’s hand in the wall but the video assistant referee ruled in City’s favour.
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is keen for their disappointing season to end and start afresh after his side’s last hopes of silverware were extinguished.
“Today we competed well. I cannot say we were the better side because that is difficult to measure. The most important thing is we competed,” he said.
“We need to take positives from the game. This group needs these types of moments from games to improve.” REUTERS, AFP
