Chelsea (N) | FA Cup SF | Post-Match Thread

[Eccles Blue]

One of the things, out of the billions, I love about Pep is how 99% of the time when a player is substituted, either by injury or otherwise he gives them a high five or a hug and most of the time both. He cares about those lads and the team spirit is, to my mind, second to none.
Thats down to the leadership.

 

[ONTHERUNWITHTHAKSIN]

One of the things, out of the billions, I love about Pep is how 99% of the time when a player is substituted, either by injury or otherwise he gives them a high five of a hug and most of the time both. He cares about those lads and the team spirit is, to my mind, second to none.
Thats down to the leadership.

His man management is spot on

 

[cleavers]

Fantastic result tonight, I only saw the last 20 minutes, as I chose to visit my daughter and her boyfriend.

I hadn't given a shit since Wednesday night, all I wanted was the PL, so concentrate on those games, but we're there now, and we will have a week off before the final, and no CL distraction (sadly), so lets get both won from here.

 

[johnny crossan]

So where was Erring Erling?

 

[SamTheGuru]

Can we all just take a moment, just to point and laugh at Chelsea's free kick in the last 90 seconds?

 

[Bluekiwi]

Genuine question, is it conclusive that the ball hit Grealish's arm and not his side?

Looking at the clip on Hoofoot it appeared to hit his arm

 

[Mr. Shush]

Listened to broadcast on City webpage driving up for my sons club game. Then watched on ESPN+. Watching the game was exhausting to me. In my mind I'm thinking that Bernardo, Walker, Foden - they all played 120 minutes. If the game had gone to extra time, they were gonna be dragging players off the pitch. I'm so glad Bernardo got that goal. Now we get 4 days off. Its all about Brighton now. One at a time. Let's do this.

 

[SamBlue]

Great atmosphere at Wembley and even better result, but that team looked dead on the pitch today. Apart from Akanji who in spite asked to be subbed on Wed and potentially injured, has shown necessary energy for this kind of a game, and was doing all the game what Stones was supposed to do. And Ortega was fantastic.
I see Alvarez is being slagged off, he might have not done much (like the most of the players, but he was running like a banshee and the lad doesn't ask to be subbed because he is tired.
I was really disappointed with Grealish what he didn't do while on, he had acres of space on their right side and still nothing. Doku changed everything even after they started doubling up on him. And our Kev, even after you 'die', class stays on the pitch. It was funny that it was Bernardo who scored, because for the most of the game his body was on the pitch, while in his mind he had late afternoon siesta at his place back back in Portugal.
Very happy after RM, but worrying for us in the next six games, we look dead on our legs and mentally spent force.
How the hell will Rodri play Euros I have no clue!

 

[Ithryn Luin]

Football is a funny old game - should have won on Wednesday - didn't. Should have lost today - didn't.

Spot on! The unpredictability is a huge part of the game.

 

[OffertonBlue]

It's also a good job Ortega kept us at 0-0.
I hope that the knock he got isn't anything much and also that he starts in the final.

Ortega did well again and deserves to play in the final on merit.

Personally I don't think he got a knock at all. It looked like it was pre planned to me to give the team a 3 minute rest at around 75 minutes as we were running on empty. I didn't see him take any knock. I didn't see Eddie warming up whilst Ortega was getting treatment. Immediately after treatment he played his normal game without any hint from then till the end of the game of any knock or injury. If it was planned it worked and we got a vital 3 minute rest at a key stage of the game.

Now City don't normally do any "dark arts" or timewasting (apart from Eddie towards the end of games when we are winning). Caicedo was leaving his foot in all game, Chelsea were taking their time from the first minute taking goal kicks, throw ins and corners, etc etc but we played a straight game again today (apart from Ortega's knock). If you want further proof of our straight game play then replay the match and watch Chelsea corners....not once did we see any City players grappling, holding, pushing, etc. But that from Ortega today was executed perfectly and about time we did it. Better the keeper to go down for treatment then any other player say holding their head, as they then have to go off for 30 seconds. So well done City.....used it brilliantly and sparingly.

 

[lasereyes]

If we retain the FA cup we need to get an extra medal cast for Nicolas Jackson

He is this year's Lukaku

 

[Eccles Blue]

I’m going to say something now which may get me in some folks bad books but it’s the way I feel and I make no excuses.

Any City fan who has a bad word for any City player after today’s game needs to give their head a wobble. That team today showed character, determination, grit, heart and soul. They fought to keep our place in the cup and they succeeded. Ok it wasn’t the best display but they played as a team, together.
Criticism is ok on a normal match (constructive criticism) but today they were magnificent warriors and only (IMHO) deserved praise.

There’s a word that a lot of you use that begins with the 3rd letter of the alphabet and if you had bad words for that team today please apply that word to yourself!

Sorry but that is my opinion and I stand by it. Throw your stones (no pun intended) at me but I stand with that team and our fans. :-)

My only regret today? I couldn’t be there, I cried the other night because I wasn’t able to go to Wembley. But today my tears would have been tears of joy and pride. Sorry for the essay. ;-)

 

[malg]

Forgiven for what? If the keeper chooses a side like they do for 99% of penalties, it's considered a great penalty.

Stop it. That penalty was fucking awful.

 

[I'm not really here]

Spot on! The unpredictability is a huge part of the game.

Sometimes the universe checks itself

 

[malg]

Onto Thursday now. A few days off, some light training and hopefully we'll stop hearing about players being 'dead on their feet'.

Bernardo enjoyed his goal today. He celebrated right in front of us and you could see he 'felt' it.

Fucking love that guy. Still a legend for his tea drinking exploits.

 

[lasereyes]

He‘s a dirty player, I’ve seen him a few times this season and he’s been the same. It’s funny though, I didn’t pick up on it when he was at Brighton.

Exactly the same happened in our home game with Chelsea. He should have had 2 red cards

 

[Tourist since 1971]

Couple of points.
Firstly, we are clearly watching one of the most astonishing football teams ever to have played the game. I can think of no other team that, after humbling the second best team in the world for 120+ minutes without the breaks to win it, can go again in a high stakes game 3 days later, still get 60+% possession, and have the balls to go on and win it. People are saying we were out on our feet, but we still had them parking the bus. I am awestruck.

And secondly, I have a middle aged man crush on every single one of them for their love and belief in the club, their heart and guts, and their love and respect for each other.

 

[Gaylord du Bois]

Gargantuan performance all round. Amazing since we were off the pace following Wednesday's effort.
Fuck knows how our players manage to sustain this level of physical output. Hopefully a welcome rest will have the desired effect this week.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Genuine question, is it conclusive that the ball hit Grealish's arm and not his side?

It hit his hand as he was trying to put it closer to his body.

It also made Palmer’s shot deflect closer to the goal.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Stop it. That penalty was fucking awful.

It’s kind of true though. Like with a panenka, it looks cool when it works and dreadful when it doesn’t.