Pep Guardiola sends warning to broadcasters as he threatens protest at 'unacceptable' scheduling of Man City's FA Cup semi-final... after he accused BBC of risking health of his stars in stunning rant on live TV

Pep Guardiola suggested he may refuse 'extra' requests from broadcasters after he launched into an extraordinary rant following Man City's victory at Wembley.

Bernardo Silva’s late winner against Chelsea saw the defending FA Cup champions squeeze into next month’s final where they will face either rivals Manchester United or Coventry City.

But Guardiola was incensed afterwards, taking aim at broadcasters and the authorities by claiming they are damaging the health of players and that he is powerless to force change.

Guardiola was fuming at the 66-hour gap between Wednesday’s Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid and this semi-final against Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea.

During his post-match press conference, he asserted that he may not partake in activities with broadcasters, given their congested schedule. 

He said: 'For broadcasters [shrugs]. Don't ask me to do extra things after because we're not going to do it.' 

Immediately after the match, Guardiola gave a passionate rant during BBC coverage where he labelled the fixture scheduling as 'unacceptable'. 

‘It’s unacceptable,’ the City boss said. ‘Because I’ve won I have the courage to tell you. For the health of the players, it’s not normal. I don’t understand how we survived today. 

‘Why play today and not tomorrow, when Coventry, Chelsea, and United didn’t play in the midweek?

‘Why not have one more day for the health of the players? Tell me how you prepare this final against Chelsea in the best moment of the season. How? It’s impossible. There’s no chance.’

Guardiola sarcastically added: ‘Honestly, I know in this country it’s special for many things.’  

Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri both appeared physically shot and Guardiola – who has been persistent in his complaints at the calendar – is now giving his players two days off.

The 53-year-old accepts that he cannot affect change and believes the Premier League, FA, UEFA and FIFA refuse to listen to managers over their concerns surrounding player welfare.

‘Do you think our demanding is going to change something?’ he said. ‘The only power I have is saying here. It’s not going to change anything. I know it.

‘I'm right. It's common sense. I'm not asking for a special privilege. I don't want any more meetings. I don't go because I have games every three days so I don't have time to attend meetings. What they decide we will do.

‘I remember two years ago, it happened the same, we played in Dortmund on Wednesday, we travel, played [a semi-final] Saturday against Liverpool, we made a lot of changes, 3-0 down at half-time. They destroyed us.’

Despite City being nowhere near their best, Guardiola lauded his squad for the mentality to overcome the heartache of their European exit to set up a third FA Cup final during his tenure.

‘Some players made an incredible effort,’ he said. ‘What they have done today is one of the greatest things I have seen from a group of players after 120 minutes against Real. You can prepare absolutely nothing, four hours to arrive here and then play the game in these conditions.

‘We are very pleased, showed again who we are. Next season when we play the (expanded) Champions League, is the same week as the Carabao Cup. How are we going to play?

‘Will we play the Elite Development Squad in the Carabao Cup? After next season we go to the Club World Cup. We are incredibly happy, a lot of money, incredibly prestigious. But how many days do I give off to the players? Two weeks off and start the season again. It's unsustainable.’

Pochettino, whose side could have taken the game away from City before Silva’s eventual winner, admitted Chelsea were not smart enough in either box.

‘It is so easy to explain,’ he said. ‘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.’