Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink: 'Everton had one week to prepare, that was an advantage in last the 15 minutes... TV schedule is demanding against the health of the players'

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Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink believes his players were still suffering from their midweek Champions League defeat as they were sent crashing out of the FA Cup by Everton.

Two goals from former Blues striker Romelu Lukaku sealed the Toffees place in the semi-finals and booked the fans a trip to Wembley.

But Hiddink, who had Diego Costa sent off, was downbeat after the performance but put it down to his players being fatigued in the final 15 minutes.

Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink feels his side didn't have enough time to prepare for FA Cup quarter-final clash

Romelu Lukaku (centre) came back to haunt his former side with two terrific finishes at Goodison Park

He told reporters: 'I don't think you must underestimate that you play Champions League and then in two days you have to play an intensive game here.

'Not a complaint but they had to prepare one week, that was the advantage in the last 15 minutes of the game.

'One day more rest favoured by the FA would have been very suitable for us, but it is like it is.

Diego Costa makes his way off the pitch after being sent off during the final few minutes of the clash

'Television is demanding against sometimes the health of players but it is like it is. It is a bit of criticism from my side, not because we lost, we must not concede those goals, but people must consider that as well.'

The night went from bad to worse for the Chelsea boss after footage appeared to show Costa attempting to bite Gareth Barry before he pulled away at the last minute.

A Chelsea spokesman said the Spaniard denied biting his opponent: 'Diego spoke to club officials after the game and expressed regret over his reaction to the challenge from Gareth Barry that led to his red card, but Diego was also very clear that he did not bite him at any point.'

The Spanish striker appeared to bite Everton midfielder Gareth Barry at Goodison Park

Costa clashed with Barry during the second-half of Chelsea's 2-0 FA Cup quarter-final defeat