Manchester City Frustrated by Fixture Crunch with Three Key Games in Seven Days

AI Summary

Manchester City are facing a challenging fixture schedule with three key games in seven days, including a Premier League match against Crystal Palace, the FA Cup final against Chelsea, and a Premier League match against Bournemouth. The club is frustrated with the scheduling, feeling that the Premier League did not follow the principle of rescheduling matches for the earliest possible moment.

The Fixture Crunch

Manchester City are understood to be frustrated after being left facing three decisive fixtures in the space of seven days next month.

Manchester City's Challenging Schedule

City's match against Crystal Palace, which was postponed from 21 March owing to their participation in the Carabao Cup final, has been scheduled for Wednesday 13 May. The trip to Bournemouth, originally scheduled for 17 May, had to be moved after City progressed to the FA Cup final to face Chelsea on 16 May, and has been slated for 19 May.

The Impact on Manchester City's Schedule

That leaves Pep Guardiola's men facing two huge matches in the Premier League – where they are three points behind the leaders, Arsenal, with a game in hand – and the Cup final in a week. Arsenal's final home game, against Burnley, has been moved back a day to Monday 18 May.

The Reason Behind the Frustration

City's frustration is understood to stem primarily from the time it has taken to find an alternative date for the Palace game. It has been known since 4 February – when City beat Newcastle in the Carabao Cup semi-final – that the match would need to be moved, and the club feel that the principle of rescheduling matches for the earliest possible moment has not been followed.

The Future Outlook

The club feel there was an opportunity to play the match against Palace last week, because their match at Burnley – which was played last week – could have been moved to this week or next, when Palace had no free dates owing to European participation.