Pep Guardiola suggests he may REFUSE ‘additional’ demands from broadcasters to protest against ‘unacceptable’ programming of Man City’s FA Cup semi-final… after accusing the BBC of risking the health of its stars in stunning speech on live TV

Pep Guardiola has suggested he may refuse ‘additional’ requests from broadcasters after launching into an extraordinary rant following Man City’s win at Wembley.

Bernardo Silva’s late winner against Chelsea saw the reigning FA Cup champions advance to next month’s final where they will face rivals Manchester United or Coventry City.

But Guardiola then became angry, lashing out at broadcasters and authorities saying they were harming players’ health and he was powerless to force change.

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

In his post-match press conference, he claimed that he could not participate in activities with the broadcasters, given their busy schedules.

For City coach, it’s ‘not normal’ and ‘unacceptable’ that his team played on Saturday

Despite Guardiola’s concerns, Bernardo Silva helped City book their place in the FA Cup final

He said: “For the broadcasters (shrugs). Don’t ask me to do extra things afterwards because we’re not going to do it.

Immediately after the match, Guardiola gave an impassioned speech during BBC coverage, where he called the match schedule “unacceptable.”

“This is unacceptable,” said the city boss. “Because I won, I have the courage to tell you. For the health of the players, this is not normal. I don’t understand how we survived today.

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

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

Guardiola added sarcastically: “Honestly, I know that in this country it’s special for a lot of things.”

Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri both appeared physically affected and Guardiola – who has persisted in his complaints about the schedule – is now giving his players two days off.

The 53-year-old admits he cannot affect change and believes the Premier League, FA, UEFA and FIFA are refusing to listen to executives over their concerns over player welfare.

“Do you think our demands will change anything? ” he said. “The only power I have is to say it here. It won’t change anything. I know that.

Rodri was one of the players who seemed particularly burdened by the recent exploits

Guardiola insisted FA must take ‘player health’ into account for schedule

City were taken to penalties – which they lost – against Real Madrid on Wednesday.

‘I am right. It’s common sense. I’m not asking for any special privileges. I don’t want any more meetings. I don’t go because I have matches every three days so I don’t have time to attend meetings. Whatever they decide, we will do.

“I remember two years ago, it was the same, we played Dortmund on Wednesday, we traveled, played (a semi-final) on Saturday against Liverpool, we made a lot of changes, trailed 3-0 at halftime. They destroyed us.

Although City are far from their best, Guardiola praised his team for the mentality needed to overcome the heartbreak of their European exit and deliver a third FA Cup final during his tenure.

“Some players made an incredible effort,” he said. “What they did today is one of the greatest things I’ve seen from a group of players after 120 minutes against Real. There’s absolutely nothing you can prepare for, four hours to arrive here and then play the game under these conditions.

‘We are very happy, we have once again shown who we are. Next season, when we play the (extended) Champions League, it is the same week as the Carabao Cup. How are we going to play?

Guardiola will face either Coventry or Man United in his bid to win the FA Cup for a third time

“Are we going to play against the elite development team in the Carabao Cup? After next season we will go to the Club World Cup. We are incredibly happy, lots of money, incredibly prestigious. But how many days should I give players? Two weeks of rest and start the season again. It’s not sustainable.

Pochettino, whose side could have won the game against City before Silva’s eventual winner, admitted Chelsea were not smart enough in either case.

“It’s so easy to explain,” he says. “We conceded in an instant that you should not concede. We weren’t able to be clinical in front of goal, we had a lot of chances but we didn’t score.

“I think in the game we were a bit better and deserved more, but it’s not about deserving it, it’s about being clinical and we weren’t that today.”