The Wembley clash came only three days after an agonising exit from the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid.
And with the players understandably distraught at their defeat to Los Blancos, the boss said it was fine to use these passionate sentiments to fire themselves up.
It clearly worked as Bernardo Silva’s 84th minute goal ensured safe passage through to next month’s showpiece final.
CITY 1-0 CHELSEA | MATCH REPORT
“I said ‘don’t fight against your feelings’,” said the boss.
“You are disappointed, it’s fine. Don’t pretend to be happy all the time.
“You are sad? I’m sad. Once we are here, do you best. They did it.
“In the condition we travel to London to play against Chelsea in their best moment of the season and against these players with this pace and do what we have done today, what a season we have done.
“Football is defined like this. Manu arrived in the byline cross, Kevin up, Bernardo goal. Define one season in these details.
“We could lose today, Chelsea had a lot of chances I am not going to deny that. We had, too. But they did. The coin comes.
“I am going to define going out of the Champions League quarter-final with these guys? After winning the Treble, to still come here?”
Watch the full press conference in the video above.
