Mauricio Pochettino has explained why Chelsea lost to Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, April 20.
Chelsea suffered a 1-0 setback in the hands of Pep Guardiola’s men as the Blue’s disastrous campaign continues.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side were positive in the 90 minutes but Bernardo Silva scored deep into the second half to put Man City in the final as they look to retain the trophy once again.
The West London team were wasteful in front of goal as their hoodoo continued at Wembley Stadium.
The game was not short of debate with Chelsea adamant they should have had a penalty in the second half. Cole Palmer took a free-kick and Jack Grealish’s extended arm made clear contact with the ball, but the center referee Michael Oliver was not interested and neither was the VAR after a short check.
The game which ended in a 1-0 defeat means Chelsea will finish the season without a trophy.
Speaking on why his side lost, Mauricio Pochettino said; “It is so easy to explain. We conceded in a moment you should not concede. We were not capable of being clinical in front of the 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.”
The Argentine tactician further spoke on the missed chances, he said; “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.”
The Argentine, who took over at Stamford Bridge nearly a year ago, lost the final of the League Cup two months ago and has failed to bring his team out of mid-table obscurity in the Premier League.
Chelsea vs Manchester City in Brief
Defending champions Manchester City beat Chelsea 1-0 with a late goal from Bernardo Silva on Saturday to reach the FA Cup final after an intense, end-to-end Wembley semifinal.
Silva side-footed the ball home in the 84th minute after Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic parried a shot from former Blues midfielder Kevin De Bruyne.
Senegalese forward Nicolas Jackson was particularly profligate. He had the first shot on target in the eighth minute but it was easily collected by Stefan Ortega in the City goal.
Early in the second half, Jackson had two chances to put the ball away but Ortega intercepted both.
There were also opportunities for 21-year-old former City forward Cole Palmer, who scored four goals against Everton in the league last Monday, and for Noni Madueke.
A last-gasp free kick from substitute Mykhailo Mudryk sailed over the bar, while Chelsea also had a penalty appeal turned down when Palmer’s free-kick struck Jack Grealish’s hand in the wall but VAR ruled in City’s favor.
Chelsea have now been eliminated from six of their last eight FA Cup ties against Manchester City, including in the third round last season.
Man City, on the other hand, will meet Manchester United or second-tier Coventry City, who play on Sunday, April 21, in the final on May 25.
What’s next for Chelsea?
Mauricio Pochettino and his men will be back in action in the English Premier League when they face Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, April 23, at 8:00 WAT.
