Manchester City have asked Premier League bosses for help with their fixture pile-up as they face three games in seven days, sparking concerns from rival clubs amid a tense Premier League title race with Arsenal
Manchester City have requested Premier League officials’ assistance with their congested fixture schedule amid the title battle with Arsenal. City manager Pep Guardiola has been left to confront three matches in seven days leading up to the season’s final weekend.
However, it has sparked opposition from rival clubs who have objected to treble-chasing City receiving any preferential treatment from the Premier League fixture planners.
City secured their place in the FA Cup final which will take place at Wembley on Saturday May 16. That has necessitated their match at Bournemouth – initially scheduled for 17 May – to be rearranged while they also have a home fixture with Crystal Palace requiring reorganisation.
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The standard Premier League protocol is that the earliest scheduled game takes precedence and should be fulfilled first to preserve the integrity of the fixture calendar. Nevertheless, it is understood that City requested the fixtures to be “flipped” to afford them an additional day’s rest ahead of the FA Cup final.
Palace are scheduled to face Everton on Sunday, 10 May, due to their Europa Conference League obligations the preceding Thursday. This means Palace can only fulfil their fixture at the Etihad on Wednesday 13 May which leaves City one fewer day to recuperate for their Wembley appointment.
The club’s fixture against Bournemouth is scheduled for Tuesday, 19th May, owing to the Europa League final taking place the following day, with UEFA reluctant to see domestic matches coincide with European dates. While it can occur under exceptional circumstances, given that a Premier League side is guaranteed to feature, UEFA would strongly oppose any clash on 20th May.
This leaves City confronting a gruelling fixture list and a demanding visit to Bournemouth just three days after the FA Cup final — two matches that could prove decisive in determining whether they clinch a treble this campaign.
The situation is equally taxing for City supporters, who were unable to purchase their full allocation for the FA Cup semi-final, with numerous fans voicing frustration over ticket pricing.
The Premier League are yet to formally announce the fixtures but must clearly consider the preferences of both the Palace and Bournemouth fanbases, with the latter anticipating 19th May as Andoni Iraola’s final home match in charge.
It is understood that clubs raised concerns regarding last-minute fixture alterations and the inconvenience caused to supporters, alongside the matter of departing from the Premier League’s established guidelines on scheduling.
Arsenal, meanwhile, may well welcome the prospect of City facing a potentially tricky away day at Bournemouth on the Tuesday, with both clubs locked in a fierce battle for the title.
The television schedule is yet to be finalised, with Arsenal’s last home fixture against Burnley still to be confirmed, potentially taking place on Monday 18th May, while Tottenham’s crucial visit to Chelsea also remains unscheduled.
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