Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola celebrates on the pitch after the English FA Cup semi-final football match between Manchester City and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium in north west London on April 20, 2024. — AFP picLONDON, April 21 — Pep Guardiola slammed the “unacceptable” schedule that put fatigued Manchester City’s health at risk in their 1-0 win against Chelsea in an FA Cup semi-final scheduled just three days after their gruelling Champions League exit.
Guardiola took aim at the authorities for putting his players’ futures in danger when they could have played Manchester United’s semi-final against Coventry on Saturday instead of Sunday because neither club was in European action this week.“I’m incredibly happy to play the semi-finals of the FA Cup. I love to be in the quarter-final of the Champions League. But it’s unacceptable to let us play today,” Guardiola said.
“I’m right, right? I’m not asking for some special privilege. It is a risk for their health, it is a risk for many things. I know they don’t care, but I care,” he said. City are back in action at Brighton in the Premier League on Thursday as they chase an unprecedented fourth successive title. While City eye the double, Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino had to come to terms with a second loss at Wembley in a troubled first season in charge.