Discussions between Manchester City and the Premier League regarding the rescheduling of two crucial fixtures have encountered resistance, with concerns that Pep Guardiola's side may be required to play three decisive matches within seven days. The outcome could significantly impact the title race with Arsenal and other league positions.
Fixture complications
City's pursuit of a domestic Treble has created a scheduling headache. After defeating Arsenal to win the Carabao Cup, Guardiola's team has once again reached the FA Cup final, where they will face Chelsea on Saturday, 16 May. This leaves two Premier League fixtures needing rearrangement with only weeks remaining in the season: the away trip to Bournemouth, which fell on FA Cup final weekend, and the home match against Crystal Palace, which has been without a date for months.
The Premier League holds the authority to schedule both games, a decision made more significant by the tight title race between City and Arsenal. City could end up playing four matches in 12 days.
Current remaining fixtures
Manchester City have six games left: five in the Premier League plus the FA Cup final. They hold a game in hand on leaders Arsenal due to their cup progress. After reaching the FA Cup semi-finals, their trip to Burnley was rearranged for Wednesday, 22 April.
Precedent in the Premier League suggests postponed games are played in the order originally scheduled, where possible. This would place the Crystal Palace match on Wednesday, 13 May, and the Bournemouth game on Tuesday, 19 May. The latter date avoids a clash with the Europa League final on Wednesday, 20 May, as UEFA prohibits domestic fixtures on the same day as its showpiece events.
Why Crystal Palace comes first
Crystal Palace's participation in the Europa Conference League has complicated matters. Oliver Glasner's side face Shakhtar Donetsk in the semi-finals on 30 April and 7 May. If they progress, the final would be after the Premier League season ends, on 27 May. Consequently, City's match against Palace must be scheduled either immediately after the Brentford game or after the FA Cup final. The Premier League prefers the original order, but Palace's Sunday league games following European commitments rule out a Tuesday fixture. Thus, Wednesday, 13 May, is the leading option, with Bournemouth rearranged for the following week but not on Wednesday due to the Europa League final, which will involve an English club (Aston Villa or Nottingham Forest).
City initially wanted the Palace match on Wednesday, 22 April, instead of the Burnley game, but this proved impossible as Palace were already scheduled to play West Ham on Monday, 20 April.
Tensions in discussions
The situation could leave City playing three games in seven days before the final weekend, with the testing trip to Bournemouth just three days after the FA Cup final. City have been in dialogue with the Premier League to explore alternatives, including swapping the order of the Palace and Bournemouth games, but this has led to pushback and some tension in discussions. Arsenal are also monitoring developments that could affect the title race.
Any changes could also impact other positions, as Bournemouth aim for a first-ever European place. If their match against City is on Tuesday, 19 May, it would give Andoni Iraola's side nine days' rest (due to a free weekend around the FA Cup final) compared to City's three. That would also be Iraola's final home match in charge, an emotional occasion. Swapping the games would allow City to play on Tuesday, 12 May, gaining an extra day.
Sources with knowledge of the discussions note that the fixture congestion is simply a matter of how it falls, a complication clubs competing on multiple fronts must face. City have pointed to the unnecessary pile-up when alternatives exist. This has led to pushback, principally over the principle that individual club situations should not override precedent, given that other teams have faced similar circumstances. Arsenal sources have referenced the 2023-24 title race, when City faced a rescheduled away trip at Tottenham Hotspur as their penultimate game, despite an expected media circus.
Bournemouth currently expect their game against City to be played on Tuesday, 19 May, with a likely 7:30pm start. Arsenal are set to face Burnley in their own last home game on the night before, a Monday, a move already meeting fan pushback. The fixtures are anticipated to be announced within the next 24 hours.
