Manchester City are frustrated they will have to play three games in six days in the title run-in after two rearranged games were announced either side of the FA Cup final.
City believe the Premier League’s principle for rescheduling matches has not been followed as it was announced they will host Crystal Palace on 13 May and travel to Bournemouth on 19 May.
In between, Pep Guardiola’s team, who are battling with Arsenal to become champions, visit Wembley on 16 May for the FA Cup final against Chelsea, giving them two trips to the south.
City feel their match against Palace, which was due to be played on the weekend when Guardiola’s side instead beat Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final, had not been rearranged sooner.
The Premier League had known since 4 February – when City beat Newcastle in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final – that they would need a new date to meet Oliver Glasner’s team.
City had three free midweeks, beginning on the 20th and 27th of April and the 4th of May, though Palace were involved in Europa Conference League action in the last two, and had proposed various alternative dates.
City noted their Premier League match against Burnley, which had to be rescheduled because of the FA Cup semi-finals, was instead rearranged for 22 April.
City would have preferred to face Palace then, partly because it would have been easier to find a new date to face Burnley, who are not in Europe.
But while Palace were picked for a Monday night clash against West Ham on 20 April, that could have been moved to the Sunday.
To further complicate matters, the Premier League cited referenced a principle that all FA Cup semi‑finalists should play in the first available midweek ahead of the semi‑final. However, the Premier League handbook does not reference any such principle.
At the end of the season, City would have preferred to face Bournemouth on 12 May and then Palace on 21 May, with Uefa wanting 20 May to be kept clear so nothing clashes with the Europa League final, which will feature either Aston Villa or Nottingham Forest.
However, City are aware that Arsenal’s trip to Wolves was rearranged for a February night when there were four Champions League matches.
