How Bernardo Silva's goal led Manchester City past wasteful Chelsea and into the FA Cup final

Today's defeat was Chelsea's 11th FA Cup semi-final elimination — only Everton (13) and Tottenham (12) have exited the competition at this stage on more occasions.

City, meanwhile, have qualified for back-to-back FA Cup finals for the third time in their history.

Two stats that embody today's game, I feel.

So Chelsea's men lost their FA Cup semi-final - but at least the women produced an eye-catching 1-0 win at Barcelona, in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final earlier in the day.

As for Manchester City, they could yet follow-up securing their FA Cup final berth with some good news from the Premier League.

Their title rivals Arsenal are currently in action against Wolves at Molineux. It's goalless after the opening half an hour.

You'll be able to follow how that one ends up on our football news feed.

Mauricio Pochettino could not have coached a much better game. His team got in the positions to win that match twice over, but he was left to rue missed opportunities once again.

Here's a bit more of what he said to BBC Sport:

💬 "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 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."

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino was keeping it light when speaking to BBC Sport after their semi-final defeat, which makes sense given they've still got hopes of qualifying for Europe via a better Premier League finish - and only limited games to achieve it.

💬 "We we're not able to be clinical. We had many chances, but we didn't score. This is why we lost the game. Last Monday we scored six (against Everton). Today we were not able to score with the same chances.

"It was a very tough game. We were playing a very good team. I think we were capable to play a very good game and we competed really well; we need to take the positive things and look forward.

"If we want to build something here, it is about having this type of game. Now the focus is to Tuesday. We are not going to have too many days to recover…but we need to think in a positive way to win games in the Premier League and be in a position maybe closer to being in Europe."

Pep Guardiola certainly wasn't all doom and gloom as he lauded the continued efforts of his players to keep the club fighting on multiple fronts.

He reserved special praise for Rodri (who never seems to miss a game) and Walker (having come back from an injury recently), but his sentiment was made for his whole squad.

At least there haven't been any Champions League games added to the schedule next season, Pep.

Oh...

One of the first things Pep Guardiola did after the final whistle was to go over to Cole Palmer to console him.

Palmer had sunk to the turf and sat on his own for several seconds before that, clearly devastated as you would expect.

While the game in midweek against Real Madrid ended in an exit from the Champions League, the fact it was 1-1 at full time saved Manchester City's unbeaten record.

And that is a record they have added to today, making it 29 games without defeat in all competition.

It is the longest run in the club's history.

Despite his side's late victory, a very unhappy Pep Guardiola faced the microphone after the match and told BBC Sport exactly how he felt:

💬 "It is unacceptable, really unacceptable. Coventry, United and Chelsea don't play in the week and let us play today. Next week on Friday would have been better, instead of putting it on Saturday to have less recovery.

"It's impossible. For the health of the players. It is not normal, it's not normal. Because we won I have the courage to tell you, it's not possible.

"To go 120 minutes... All of you were football players. The emotion from Madrid, the way we lost and everything. I know in this country it's (the FA Cup) is special for many things but it's the health of the players.

"I don't understand how we survived today."

Fair play to BBC presenter Gary Lineker, who acknowledged the BBC's TV selection may have been at least partially at fault for City playing first.

Manchester City midfielder and matchwinner Bernardo Silva was also asked by BBC Sport about what today shows about him and his team-mates:

💬 "We've done it throughout the years many times. The way this team reacts to disappointments and defeats is always in the best way. Today again, the team showed a lot of character.

"(The final) is going to tough, of course. Between Coventry and Man United, it's going to be a very good game and the final is the final. We're very happy that we'll be back at Wembley."

Calmness personified.

A player of Bernardo Silva's quality was never going to pass up on that chance, but there aren't many players in that bracket!

Chelsea carried a threat throughout that, yet it was Man City who found a way through to the FA Cup final. Here are the numbers that back that up...

FT: Man City 1-0 Chelsea

• Possession: 62% - 38%
• Shots: 14 - 10
• On target: 3 - 5
• XG: 0.84 - 1.16
• Successful duels: 53 - 42
• Possession lost: 126 - 111

After 120 minutes in midweek, that's a decent effort from City too. Indeed, Pep Guardiola sounds pretty unhappy with his side's schedule...

Match-winner Bernardo Silva has just been speaking to BBC Sport at full time.

💬 "I'm very happy after a very frustrating week for all of us and for me personally.

"The good thing is, if you play at Man City, you play every three days. So, after two or three days, you have a chance for a bit of revenge and to put things right.

"Today, we tried to do that even though we were very tired. We're happy with another final and another chance to win a trophy."

On the other side, Pep Guardiola is conducting the Manchester City fans as Wonderwall plays over the Wembley public address system.

The Spaniard is fist-pumping and smiling, which is a long way from the glazed-over expression he was carrying as the game remained goalless into the final five minutes before Bernardo Silva's winner.

That was not vintage Manchester City, but that doesn't matter.

They were the better team against Real Madrid on Wednesday and lost.

They were outplayed for much of today's game by Chelsea and won.

A funny old game!