Pep Guardiola hit out at the television schedule that forced his team to play an FA Cup semi-final three days after playing 120 minutes against Real Madrid.

Manchester City were second best but still beat Chelsea 1-0 at Wembley Stadium. Bernardo Silva finished from Kevin De Bruyne’s 84th-minute cross for the only goal of the match, after Chelsea had missed a number of big chances.

When asked whether the TV schedule put his side at a disadvantage, having got knocked out of the Champions League on Wednesday, Guardiola said: “I'm incredibly happy to play the semi-final of the FA Cup.

“I love to be in quarter-final of the Champions League, I love to be but I don't understand. It's for the health of the players. I don't understand how we survived today.

“People cannot imagine what a punch in the face to be out of the Champions League in the way we are out. Why not give us one more day to arrive on Sunday because Coventry and United didn't play in midweek. For broadcasters? Ok.

"Don't ask me after to do extra things because we won't do it. it's unacceptable to play today. The game was tight, Chelsea had incredible chances in transitions and we lost a lot of ball because we were tired. Some played made an incredible effort.

“What they have done today is one of the greatest things I have seen from a group of players. 120 minutes against Real, you can prepare absolutely nothing, four hours to arrive here and play the game in these conditions.

“I don't understand how we survived. We are very pleased, showed again how we are and at the end of the season we come back here to play the final of the FA Cup against United or Coventry.”

When pressed why City did not force a change and talk to the FA, he added: “The club was late. You have to call before. In this country, they don't change anything. If I pretend it will change next season, it won't happen.

“But don't ask me to make meetings. I'm busy. I have to prepare games every three days. If you don't have the sensitivity of the players. If United played the Champions League, I would understand completely, but why not give us one more day? But it's not going to change.

“We are incredibly happy, have a lot of money, and are incredibly prestigious. But how many days do I give off to the players? Two weeks off and start the season again. It's unsustainable.

“I'm incredibly happy but I just want to protect my players. I don't have to run. I do this for the players - it is unacceptable.”