‘It’s unacceptable’: Pep Guardiola goes ballistic on scheduling nightmare after FA Cup win
Pep Guardiola slams FA Cup scheduling
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was not a happy man after his team marched into yet another FA Cup final on Saturday (Apr 20), after a tense win over Chelsea. Guardiola slammed the scheduling of the match, three days after City's treble bid was ended by Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal.
City came on top against Chelsea after a late goal by Bernardo Silva settled the tie when it looked certain the match washeading towards another hectic 30-minute extra time.
"It's unacceptable to let us play today. 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," Guardiola was quoted as saying by theBBC.
"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 added.
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Despite being the dominant side against Madrid, City were taken to the very end by the 14-time champions who eventually prevailed on penalties. The result of the physically and mentally draining match was visible on City players who could not get out off the first gear against Chelsea.
Nicholas Jackson missed a couple of bigchances that allowed Guardiola's men to enter the second successiveFA Cup final.
The treble-winning manager pointed fingers at the other FA Cup fixture and asked why his team were not given the extra day to freshen themselves up.
"The only power I have I say here. Why don't we play tomorrow? Chelsea, Manchester United, Coventry didn't play midweek," Guardiola said.
"What they did today is one of the greatest things I have ever seen from a group of players after 120 minutes of football on Wednesday. I just want to protect my players. It's common sense. I'm not asking for something special or privilege."
Arteta supports Guardiola
Guardiola's comments were supported by his Arsenal counterpart Mikel Arteta whose team also had to play in the Premier League against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday after losing to Bayern Munich.
"It's not about us, Pep or myself, it's about the well-being of the players. When you compete in European competition, every team has to compete in the same way," said Arteta when quizzed about his former boss's comments.
Arteta's Arsenal looked laborious as well and only managed to ease through after Trossard scored late in the first half before captain Martin Odegaard put the tie to bed in the 90th minute.
(With inputs from agencies)