Pep Guardiola launched an extraordinary rant on the BBC after Manchester City kept their Wembley double hopes alive.
Bernardo Silva’s late goal against Chelsea allowed the defending FA Cup champions to progress to next month’s final, where they will face rivals Manchester United or Coventry City.
But Guardiola later became outraged and took aim at the broadcasters and authorities, stating that they were damaging the players’ health and that he could not force changes.
Guardiola was furious at the 66-hour gap between Wednesday’s Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid and this semi-final against Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea.
“It’s unacceptable,” said the City boss. ‘Because I have won I have the courage to tell you. For the health of the players it is not normal. I don’t understand how we survived today.
Pep Guardiola ranted furiously about the fixture schedule for the FA Cup semi-finals.
The City coach considers it “not normal” and “unacceptable” that his team played on Saturday
Despite Guardiola’s concerns, Bernardo Silva helped secure City’s place in the FA Cup final
“Why play today and not tomorrow, when Coventry, Chelsea and United didn’t play midweek?”
‘Why not have one more day for the players’ health? Tell me how you prepare for this final against Chelsea at the best moment of the season. As? It is impossible. There is no chance.
Guardiola added sarcastically: “Honestly, I know that this country is special for many things.”
Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri appeared physically shot yesterday and Guardiola, who has been persistent in his complaints about the calendar, is now giving his players two days of rest.
The 53-year-old accepts he cannot bring about change and believes the Premier League, FA, UEFA and FIFA are refusing to listen to management about their concerns over player welfare.
‘Do you think our demand is going to change anything?’ he said. ‘The only power I have is to say here. It’s not going to change anything. I know.
Guardiola insisted that the FA must consider the ‘health of the players’ for the match calendar
City were taken to a penalty shoot-out, which they lost, against Real Madrid on Wednesday.
‘I’m right. It’s common sense. I’m not asking for a special privilege. I don’t want any more meetings. I don’t go because I have games every three days and I don’t have time to attend meetings. Whatever they decide we will do.
“I remember that the same thing happened two years ago, we played on Wednesday in Dortmund, we traveled, we played [a semi-final] On Saturday against Liverpool we made a lot of changes, 3-0 down at half-time. They destroyed us.’
Even though City are nowhere near their best, Guardiola praised his team for the mentality of overcoming the pain of their European exit to prepare for a third FA Cup final during his tenure.
“Some players gave an incredible effort,” he said. “What they did today is one of the best things I have seen from a group of players after 120 minutes against Real. You can’t prepare absolutely anything, four hours to get here and then play in these conditions.
‘We are very happy, we have once again shown who we are. Next season, when we play the (expanded) Champions League, it will be the same week as the Carabao Cup. How are we going to play?
Guardiola will face either Coventry or Man United in their bid to win the FA Cup for the third time.
‘Will we play against the Elite Development Squad in the Carabao Cup? After next season we are going to the Club World Cup. We are incredibly happy, we have a lot of money and we are incredibly prestigious. But how many days do I give the players? Two weeks of rest and start the season again. “It’s unsustainable.”
Pochettino, whose team could have taken the game away from City before Silva’s eventual winner, admitted Chelsea were not smart enough in either area.
“It’s very easy to explain,” he said. ‘We conceded at a time that you should not concede. We were not able to be accurate in front of goal, we had many chances but we did not score.
“I think that in the game we were a little better and we deserved more, but it’s not about deserving it, it’s about being clinical and today we weren’t.”