Man City in talks with the Premier League over scheduling nightmare that could decide title

Man City in talks with the Premier League over scheduling nightmare that could decide title

Manchester City are in discussions with the Premier League over the scheduling of two key fixtures that could have a significant impact on the title race involving Arsenal.

City are yet to receive confirmed dates for their matches against Bournemouth and Crystal Palace, both of which must be rearranged due to fixture congestion.

The situation has become increasingly complex following City’s progression to the FA Cup final, where they will face Chelsea on May 16.

As it stands, the league is considering placing the Palace fixture on May 13 and the Bournemouth match on May 19.

That schedule would see Pep Guardiola’s side play three matches in seven days, including the Wembley final, before the final weekend of the Premier League season.

City are understood to be exploring alternative arrangements in an attempt to ease the physical demands of that run.

One option being discussed involves switching the order of the fixtures, which could allow for slightly more recovery time between matches.

Such a change would likely see the Bournemouth fixture played earlier, with Palace moved closer to the end of the campaign.

The decision is not straightforward, however, as it must also account for European competition scheduling.

UEFA have expressed a preference to avoid domestic fixtures clashing with their club tournaments, further limiting available dates.