Manchester City’s bid to reschedule two Premier League fixtures during the title run-in is set to be rejected by the league, handing Arsenal a boost in the Premier League title race
The Premier League are poised to turn down Manchester City’s attempts to rearrange two top-flight fixtures. Pep Guardiola’s side sought to switch their meetings with Bournemouth and Crystal Palace to prevent a sequence of three matches in seven days.
The trio of fixtures arrive at the crucial stage of the season with an FA Cup final against Chelsea squeezed in between on May 16. City requested special dispensation from the top-flight governing body to reschedule their home encounter with Palace and the journey to the Vitality Stadium to face Andoni Iraola’s side.
It has been reported that the preference to play Bournemouth first would enable them to spread the matches across eight days rather than seven, thereby reducing the physical and mental strain of the demanding Premier League calendar.
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According to the Mirror, City are scheduled to play four matches in 12 days, prompting officials to request a change from the league, but it has been suggested that they will maintain their position, forcing a demanding schedule on Arsenal’s title challengers.
Premier League standard protocols stipulate that the Palace home fixture should take priority on May 13, three days before the FA Cup showpiece, while the rearrangement has been further complicated by UEFA owing to Palace’s participation in the Conference League. The European body are understood to be eager to avoid conflicting with Palace’s packed schedule.
Following the collapse of negotiations, City now face a Wednesday-Saturday-Tuesday fixture schedule, meaning they will make the trip to the South Coast just 48 hours after their afternoon at Wembley Stadium.
City, who took part in the Club World Cup last summer, have experienced a surge in injuries of late, with Ruben Dias and Rodri both facing time on the treatment table.
Guardiola had previously voiced his concerns over their participation in the post-season tournament, from which they were eliminated at the quarter-final stage, after it wrapped up just weeks before the resumption of the top-flight season.
Speaking at the end of June, the Catalan said: “I try to relax, enjoy the days here and the good vibes that we have, the competition and we try to win it. The most important thing is to recover and find within ourselves what we were.
“That’s my main target in this tournament. I want them to feel that this is our path again to be competitive like we have been in eight of the last nine years.
“After this, let’s see what happens. Let’s see what happens after the final. We will rest for the time the Premier League allow us. Maybe in November, December or January it will be a disaster, we are exhausted and the World Cup has destroyed us.
“I don’t know, it’s the first time in our lives that this has happened. We will see when we come back.”
City closed the gap on Arsenal with a crucial 2-1 victory over the Gunners last weekend, before climbing to the top of the table on goal difference following a midweek triumph at Burnley.
Their FA Cup semi-final commitment at the weekend, in which they defeated Southampton, afforded Mikel Arteta’s side the opportunity to reclaim top spot as they narrowly overcame Newcastle United.
Nevertheless, Guardiola acknowledged that the Premier League title race was taking a heavy toll on his squad. He said: “Arsenal was so demanding emotionally, it’s normal.
“Three days later [Burnley], three days later [Southampton]. Our people were so, so tired. Then take a train, three hours from here to the hotel. Always the grass is thick [at Wembley]. Many thoughts I still have in my mind.”
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