Pep Guardiola fumes at Man City FA Cup semi final scheduling as boss unloads in post match rant

Pep Guardiola has unloaded on the Football Association for scheduling Manchester City's FA Cup semi-final three days after their Champions League defeat against Real Madrid.

The Citizens took on Mauricio Pochettino's Blues at Wembley on Saturday evening, having gone 120 minutes and penalties against the Spanish giants. Bernardo Silva's late strike booked their spot in next month's final against either Coventry City or arch rivals Manchester United.

But Pep was fuming at being forced to play first, when neither Chelsea, Coventry or United had played a midweek game. He believes the health of his players is being put at risk and admitted his preferred option would have been to play next FRIDAY night. "It's unacceptable," he told the BBC. "It's really unacceptable that Coventry, United and Chelsea don't play in the week but they let us play today. Next week on Friday would be better. Instead of Saturday, put it Friday to let the lads recover.

"it's impossible. It's for the health of the players. It's not normal. Honestly, it's not normal. So because I win, I have the courage to tell you. In defeat I will shut up.

"But it's not possible. 120 minutes. All of you are football players. The emotion from Madrid, the way we lose and everything. I know in this country it's special for many things. But it's for the health of the players.

"I don't understand how we survived today. I don't understand."

Host Gary Lineker then asked Guardiola if he'd raised the issue officially with the Football Association: "Gary, do you think us demanding is going to change something? " Guardiola fired back. "The only power I have is to say here. It's not going to change anything. I know it for many years.

"But why do we play today and not tomorrow,