Pep Guardiola criticizes the ‘unusual, unacceptable’ schedule following Manchester City’s victory over Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final.

In a post-match interview, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expressed his frustration with the scheduling of their FA Cup semi-final clash against Chelsea. Guardiola criticized the “unacceptable, not normal” decision to make his team play just days after their grueling 120-minute encounter with Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.

Guardiola’s side managed to secure a 1-0 victory over Chelsea, thanks to Bernardo Silva’s late goal. This meant that City avoided the prospect of extra time once again, after their heartbreaking exit from the Champions League on penalties, where Silva missed a crucial spot-kick.

Speaking to the BBC, Guardiola voiced his discontent with the scheduling, highlighting that Coventry, Chelsea, and Manchester United did not have midweek fixtures, while City did. He suggested that playing the FA Cup semi-final on Friday instead of Saturday would have been more favorable for the players’ health.

The Spanish manager emphasized that the current situation was not normal and questioned how his team managed to survive the demanding schedule. Guardiola’s concerns for the well-being of his players were evident as he expressed his confusion and frustration at the circumstances.

As the fallout from this contentious scheduling decision continues, it remains to be seen how it will impact Manchester City’s performance in their upcoming matches.