MAN CITY 1, CHELSEA 0
Bernardo Silva went from zero to hero in the space of three days as Manchester City beat Chelsea in the semi-finals of the Emirates FA Cup.
The Portuguese, the villain with an awful penalty miss in the shootout defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League, saw his fortunes turn full circle as he scored a late winner.
While the dream of another treble died in midweek, the pursuit of a domestic double remains very much alive.
And there is also the prospect of a second all-Manchester final as City will play the winners of tomorrow’s tie between Manchester United and Coventry City.
It took a super-human effort from City who played 120 minutes on Wednesday while Chelsea had two extra days to prepare.
City manager Pep Guardiola was furious with the football authorities for not allowing City to play on Sunday as United and Coventry had a full week to prepare after they were not involved in the Champions League.
“It’s unacceptable to let us play today,” he said. “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. 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.”
Asked whether he has raised it with authorities: “Do you think demanding will change something? The only power I have I say here. Why don’t we play tomorrow. Chelsea, Manchester United, Coventry didn’t play midweek.
Embed from Getty Images“I thought a lot. I remember two seasons ago we had Dortmund on Wednesday – and Liverpool on Saturday [in the FA Cup semi]. They were 3-0 up at half-time. They destroyed us.
“Mentally so tough to recover. Rodri, the way he played today, Kyle, who was injured for a few weeks, I don’t understand how they survived.
“We want to play football. We love to play football but it’s too much.
“We defend our trophy. We’ll be here.
“They killed us on the transition. The game was so tight. [I thought] extra time, no please.”
On what he told his players, Guardiola added: “Don’t fight against your feelings. If you’re sad you’re sad. If you’re disappointed, you’re disappointed. I’m sad. I’m so down. We played an exceptional game. I said if you’re sad play with your sadness.”
Silva said: “Very happy after a very frustrating week for all of us, for me personally. The good thing is in football at Man City, you play every three days.
“Every three days you have the chance to put things right and now we have a chance to win another trophy.
“Throughout the years, we’ve done it may times and today, the team showed a lot of character.”
Guardiola made four changes from the side which lost on penalties to Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The big news was that Erling Haaland was out of the squad completely with Julian Alvarez replacing him.
Stefan Ortega replaced Ederson in goal while Nathan Ake and John Stones came in for Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol in defence.
Chelsea made just one alteration after thrashing Everton 6-0 on Monday.
Enzo Fernandez returned in midfield with Mykhailo Mudryk dropping to the bench.
After a patient and uneventful opening, City carved out the first clear-cut chance in the 14th minute when Kevin De Bruyne put Phil Foden clean through but he was driven wide by keeper Djordje Petrovic before pulling the ball back across the face of goal with nobody able to get on the end of it.
Chelsea had a great chance to take the lead just short of the half hour when Nicolas Jackson was sent clear, but he only partially rounded keeper Ortega as Chelsea got back to clear the danger.
Former City player Cole Palmer carved out an opening for himself, but Ortega got down quickly to block the effort.
City made a change for the start as Stones was replaced by Dias.
Jackson had two great chances eight seconds apart to give Chelsea the lead as he forced a good stop from Ortega and, when the ball was recycled, he headed straight at the City keeper.
City had an opening when Foden’s low drive was parried by Petrovic.
Palmer whipped in a free kick which flew narrowly wide with Chelsea claiming it struck the arm of Jack Grealish but referee Michael Oliver was unmoved as was VAR.
A second change was forced on City as Jack Grealish limped off to be replaced by Jeremy Doku.
Doku weaved his way through Chelsea’s back line before his shot was saved by the legs of Petrovic and that was followed by De Bruyne curling an effort narrowly wide.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 84th minute when De Bruyne’s cut back from the left was kept out by the legs of Petrovic only to fall invitingly to Silva at the far post to sweep home from six yards.
City made a third change with two minutes left as Alvarez was withdrawn for Oscar Bobb.