Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino makes two complaints after agonising FA Cup defeat to Man City

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino makes two complaints after agonising FA Cup defeat to Man City

WATCH NOW: Sports round-up as Man City knock Chelsea out of FA Cup

Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 20/04/2024

- 19:57

Updated: 20/04/2024

- 20:10

The Argentine has missed out on a second cup final of the season

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has made two complaints regarding his players following his side's 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Manchester City on Saturday.

The Blues had gone into the game hoping to make a second cup final of the season, having lost to Liverpool in the final of the Carabao Cup earlier in the campaign.


However, Chelsea failed to beat City with Bernardo Silva scoring the only goal of the game to give Pep Guardiola's side a huge victory.

It was a frustrating day at the office for the Blues and for their manager.

Chelsea Mauricio Pochettino Man CIty

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has criticised his players following their FA Cup defeat to Man City

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Pochettino has complained about the timing of City's goal, insisting they 'conceded in a moment you should not concede'.

And he also hit out at their lack of ruthlessness up top, with Nicolas Jackson spurning several big chances to break the deadlock prior to Bernardo's goal.

"It is so easy to explain," he said when asked about the defeat by the BBC.

"We conceded in a moment you should not concede.

"We were not capable of being clinical in front of goal, we had many chances but we did not score.

"I think in the game we were a little bit better and deserved more, but it is not about deserving it, it is about being clinical and we were not today."

On the missed chances and how to solve it, he added: "I think last Monday we scored six but today we were not capable of scoring even with having maybe more chances and more clear chances to score."

And Pochettino wants his Chelsea players to learn from the defeat as they look for a brighter future, having endured a difficult season so far.

"I think today we were playing a very good team in Manchester City," he added.

"It wasn't easy but we were capable of playing a very good game, competing really well.

"Looking forward we want to build on this, sometimes you have these sorts of games on your journey and the important thing is to take the positives from it.

"The focus is on the game next Tuesday, there is not too many games to recover and it is going to be another tough game.

"Of course we need to win in a positive way to try to win more league games and get close to the position of being in Europe."

While it was pain for Chelsea, it was another big day for City.

They are edging closer to a double, with the reigning champions also sitting at the top of the Premier League table.

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Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino criticised his players for their lack of cutting edge in Man City defeat

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Yet Guardiola wasn't entirely happy, with the Spaniard slamming the FA's decision to schedule the match just days after his side's Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid.

"It's unacceptable to let us play today," he raged.

"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."

When asked if he would raise his issues with the authorities, he continued: "Do you think demanding will change something?

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Chelsea were sunk by Man City with Bernardo Silva scoring the only goal of their FA Cup clash

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"The only power I have I say here. Why don't we play tomorrow. Chelsea, Manchester United, Coventry didn't play midweek.

"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 [Walker], 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."

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