Manchester City will have to play catch-up to Arsenal in the next fortnight but there are advantages to be gained in other ways
Manchester City would rather not have a good chunk of this week off. The best teams in Europe are duking it out in the semi-finals of the Champions League and Pep Guardiola and his players will likely spend at least some time wishing they were in it.
They are not though and, for reasons partly connected, they don’t have a game at all this week. Despite having played a game fewer than Arsenal, the Blues will have to sit and watch their Premier League title rivals host Fulham this weekend before they get a chance to go to Everton on Monday night.
It is very possible that City will kick off at the Hill Dickinson Stadium sitting six points off top spot in what will be a test of their mettle to not get fazed by their two games in hand. Everton are pushing to qualify for Europe next season, which will not make things any easier for Guardiola’s side.
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Aside from the fact that Everton’s home record this season isn’t brilliant though, one thing that hasn’t really been mentioned is that it really isn’t far away from the Etihad. Even if it ends up slightly further from Goodison, it will still be about an hour on the team bus to get there.
At the end of next week, City host Brentford on Saturday. That is a fortnight where the players will have been able to go wherever they want in the world on their days off, and then do the bare minimum of travel for two matches; if the Crystal Palace game is rearranged to go before Bournemouth away, that fortnight becomes the best part of three weeks that City players will barely need to go anywhere to close in on their goal.
There is obviously pressure in the title race and that increases given City are playing catch-up. Assuming Arsenal do not stumble in front, it is an enormous ask to expect the players to be perfect in those circumstances.
They will at least, however, basically have as much rest as they could have. Everyone in the squad should be able to be at their fittest and that increases the prospects of Guardiola being able to get more out of his best XI than he might otherwise – especially if City were still involved in the Champions League.
Wembley is Wembley and the trip to Bournemouth is complicated for a number of reasons. Before that though, even if City would rather be playing more games in the next two weeks they have the chance to get in the best possible shape for the final few matches – and that could decide the title.
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