Manchester City face three games in seven days next month as they bid for glory in the FA Cup and the Premier League – but there is one potential positive
Manchester City face a hectic end to the season as they chase FA Cup and Premier League glory
There wasn’t much for Manchester City to like when their two remaining Premier League games were given new dates this week.
The Blues are angry at the schedule having been handed three games in seven days in the final throes of a campaign where they are chasing a domestic treble. City suggested five alternatives to that proposal but those appeals fell on deaf ears.
Arsenal face a similar schedule this week with Saturday’s Premier League match with Fulham coming either side of Champions League semi-finals with Atletico Madrid. City’s main gripe is the time it took to rearrange the home game with Crystal Palace which was called off in March when Pep Guardiola’s side were in the Carabao Cup final.
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It has been a delicate and complicated situation, with the Premier League not helped by City’s progress in both cup competitions and the success of English teams in both the Europa League and Conference League. The Blues maintain, though, that the Palace fixture should have been sorted before now given it has nearly been three months since it was displaced from the calendar.
But amid the fixture fury a silver lining has emerged for City in that final week of the season. The Blues welcome Aston Villa to the Etihad on the final day – Sunday, May 24. And while City will do so having played Bournemouth on the Tuesday, Unai Emery’s side could be involved in the Europa League final on the Wednesday.
Villa face Nottingham Forest in an all English last four tie and should they progress they will meet either Braga or Frankfurt in the final in Turkey on Wednesday, May 20.
That would give City an extra day to recover for the Premier League finale, while Villa could face the prospect of extra time and penalties plus a lengthy return journey from Istanbul.
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There is also the potential sporting implications given a final will take a lot out of the Midlanders whether they win or lose and so changes could be made for the City game.
Villa are also likely to have secured a spot in next season’s Champions League ahead of the final day of the campaign.
Arsenal are in a similar boat given their last match of the season is a home game with Crystal Palace who could be in the Conference League final just days after the campaign ends.
The Eagles play Shakhtar Donetsk in the semi-finals and if they progress they will meet either Strasbourg or Rayo Vallecano in the final on Wednesday, May 27. That could impact Oliver Glasner’s team selection for the Premier League game at the Emirates with Palace safe in mid-table.