BURNARDO

Aching Silva blasts: It's not acceptable... there is no excuse not to have had this game on Sunday

- ALAN SMITH

PEP GUARDIOLA joked that he would be putting his exhausted players in a fridge after dragging themselves into another FA Cup final.

But the concerning sight of John Stones gasping for air midway through the first half, before being substituted at the interval, was no laughing matter.

Instead it underlined why Guardiola and his players are so angry with the scheduling.

England star Stones looked deeply uncomfortable after a sprint to chase down Nicolas Jackson and it was no surprise to see Ruben Dias replace him for the second period.

For long spells at Wembley City looked shattered, the physical and emotional toll of their penalty shootout defeat to Real Madrid last Wednesday weighing heavily.

And were it not for Chelsea's lack of a finishing touch, this would have been a comprehensive defeat. They should have beaten Real but fell short. They should have lost to Chelsea but found a way. "But this is football," said Bernardo Silva.