PEP FIX AND CHILL

City boss puts aces "in fridge' to prepare for big finale

- JEREMY CROSS

MAN CITY 1 
CHELSEA 0

PEP GUARDIOLA ordered his Manchester City stars to cool down in readiness for their season reaching boiling point.

Guardiola watched the FA Cup holders dig deep to overcome a spirited Chelsea side and book a return to the final.

City needed a late winner from Bernardo Silva to take down Chelsea and keep alive their hopes of a domestic Double.

But Guardiola knows the relentless - and ridiculous demands of a long season are in danger of taking a toll on his stars.

City return to Premier League action on Thursday with a long trip to Brighton as they bid to become the first side in English history to win four titles on the spin.

Guardiola (inset with scorer Silva) knows his players are running on fumes and has stuck them in a cold place in a bid to keep them as fresh as possible.

"I don't understand how we survived," said Guardiola.