Officials have confirmed that Chelsea will have a rematch against Manchester City FC following their contentious match, leaving the Blues feeling bitter.
The decision for a replay adheres to the new IFAB rules, following an investigation that found Chelsea had been unfairly treated by the officials.
After Chelsea’s defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final, Thiago Silva hinted that his time at Stamford Bridge might be coming to an end. Bernardo Silva’s late goal sealed a 1-0 victory for Pep Guardiola’s City, dashing Chelsea’s hopes of silverware this season.
Suffering their second loss at Wembley after Liverpool’s League Cup triumph, Mauricio Pochettino’s side paid the price for their missed opportunities.
In a post-match interview, Silva expressed his disappointment over Chelsea’s FA Cup exit and suggested that his time in west London might be nearing its end. The 39-year-old, who joined Chelsea in 2020, revealed that he had already made a decision about his future after his contract expires this season.
Silva hinted, “You will find out soon enough.” “I have no comment to make right now after a defeat.”
“I am disappointed with the result, but the news will come out in due course. While I have already made a decision, it is not the right time to reveal it.
“Although I had a successful four years here, it is unusual to see 39-year-olds performing at this level given the intensity of the competition and my age. It’s not that I lacked confidence in myself.
“Although I don’t like to talk about myself, it’s clear. I was prepared to play extra time in the semi-final. I still have years ahead of me to enjoy football.”
Pochettino believed that Chelsea “deserved more” from their recent match at Wembley but admitted that his team lacked clinical finishing in front of goal.
“It’s very simple to say,” he stated. “We conceded early; you shouldn’t concede as well.
“We couldn’t convert our chances in front of goal; despite numerous opportunities, we failed to score. I think we were slightly better in the game and deserved more, but it’s not about deserving it; it’s about being clinical, which we weren’t today.”
Manchester City will face either United or Coventry City in the FA Cup final as they aim to secure a double as reigning champions of the Champions League.
