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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expressed his frustration after his side's hard-fought 1-0 victory over Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final, citing the scheduling of the game as a major concern.
Guardiola, visibly irritated, pointed out that City's midweek Champions League encounter against Real Madrid, which went to penalties, put his team at a disadvantage compared to the other three sides in the cup.
"It's unacceptable. It's really unacceptable. Coventry, United, Chelsea don't play in the week and they had us play today. Next week, on Friday, will be better," Guardiola told BBC Sport.
Guardiola voiced his disbelief that his players managed to keep going until the final whistle, considering they had just played a grueling 120-minute match against Real Madrid. "It's impossible. For the health of the players. It's not normal, honestly, it's not normal. I don't understand how we survived today," he added.
Guardiola's dissatisfaction extended to the authorities as he questioned the logic behind the scheduling. "Gary, do you think our demanding is going to change something? The only power I have I say here, it's not going to change anything. I've known it for many years but why do you play today and not tomorrow when Coventry, United and Chelsea don't play in midweek? Why? Why not have one more day for the health of the players?" he asked.
The City manager's frustration was palpable, and it's clear that he believes the scheduling could have been more considerate, especially considering the physical and mental strain his team endured in their recent Champions League fixture.
Pep Guardiola's remarks underscore the ongoing debate regarding fixture congestion and player welfare in modern football. The footballing calendar must be devised in a balanced way which gives ample rest to the players and also keeps the pace of fixtures in tandem!