Mauricio Pochettino comments on Chelsea FA Cup semi-final defeat, opinion on penalty shout

Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has suggested his squad need negative experiences to be able to progress as a team in the future.

Pochettino was speaking after the Blues suffered a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday evening.

Despite creating the better chances, Chelsea drew a blank in front of goal, with Nicolas Jackson the guilty party on three occasions before Bernardo Silva scored the decisive strike six minutes from time.

For the second time in less than two months, Pochettino witnessed his side lose by a solitary goal at Wembley Stadium - the other occasion being the EFL Cup final loss to Liverpool.

The West Londoners also wasted opportunities during that showpiece event, and the double disappointment leaves Chelsea's European qualification hopes dependent on their remaining results in the Premier League.

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'Chelsea must learn from lack of ruthlessness'

While Man City created their own fair share of chances, Chelsea's squandered openings proved costly and Pochettino did not shy away from admitting that his team must improve in the final third.

The Argentine told reporters, as quoted by football.london: "In football, the most important thing is to be clinical and to not concede. We competed well, I cannot say we were the better side because that in football is difficult to measure.

"The most important thing is we competed. Competing in this way, we need to take positives from the game. This type of group of players needs this type of moments in games.

"Now it's about to take the positive things and try to build in the things that we need, the areas we need to improve. Now is the time to finish the season in the best way and then to speak about how we can be better next season."

Did Manchester City get away with one here? 🤔#BBCFootball #FACup #MCICHE pic.twitter.com/tfl5GPrNgp

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) April 20, 2024

Pochettino thinks Chelsea should have had penalty

The controversial moment in the match arrived in the second half when Cole Palmer's free kick was diverted off target by the arm of Jack Grealish.

As well as not awarding a corner, the referee also adjudged that Chelsea should not be given a penalty, a judgement shared by VAR, despite Grealish's arm being outstretched before he attempted to bring it back down by his side.

Pochettino said: "I don't know. I think you had a better view. From the touchline, it was difficult to see if it was a penalty.

"I was talking [to the referee] because after Jesus [Perez] and my staff said it was a penalty. I only said to him, 'Why not go and check the penalty on the TV?'. I think from what I saw, [he nods his head to say it was a penalty], but move on."

Chelsea must now turn their attention to facing Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday evening, and are tasked with trying to extend their unbeaten record in the Premier League to nine matches.