- City pushed for five different solutions
- Bournemouth clash remains major issue
- Guardiola faces brutal final schedule
Manchester City are reportedly furious with the Premier League after multiple fixture change requests were rejected ahead of the final weeks of the season.
After winning against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup semi-finals in January, Man City faced a small hiccup.
The final of the competition clashed with their Premier League game against Crystal Palace. However, the Premier League decided to reschedule the fixture following the overlap.
Nevertheless, the Sky Blues didn’t expect the rescheduling to be delayed for so long, and now it has returned as a thorn in their final month of the season.
Man City angered by Premier League fixture decisions
According to the Manchester Evening News, the Citizens proposed five different solutions to the overlap. However, the league officials didn’t agree with the club, resulting in a 20-day mess for the club.
Now, Guardiola’s men play six games in 20 days next month. Worst of all, they’ll play two away games in four days, including the FA Cup final on the 16th.
Man City are mostly frustrated with the league’s decision on the Bournemouth fixture. The Manchester-based outfit argued for a preponement of the clash following the Premier League’s own rules.
However, the English top-flight decided to postpone the game instead. The Crystal Palace game was fit into that spot that had been waiting for a scheduling since January.
City had also suggested three different dates for the Palace game so that they could play the Cherries before the FA Cup final. The league agreed to fit it in the week Man City played Burnley, but later changed their mind.
Overlaps with Bournemouth fixture
Despite the Palace problem, City agreed to make their move on the Bournemouth game instead. They tried to move it to 20th May, but UEFA wouldn’t allow that due to the Europa League final being played on the same date.
Nevertheless, Arsenal playing a game on Champions League night added further tensions between the club and the Premier League.
Man City were also willing to play the Cherries on the 21st if Wednesday was booked by a final, but the league didn’t budge and chose 19th May instead.
Man City will barely have any time for preparation
The Premier League’s decision leaves Man City with virtually no time to prepare during the seven-day crunch.
City’s FA Cup opponents, Chelsea, will have a seven-day gap between their Liverpool fixture on the 9th and the FA Cup final.
Bournemouth, on the other hand, will be afforded more than 10 days as they face Fulham on the same day as Chelsea face Liverpool. After Fulham, the Cherries directly face Man City at home on the 19th.
