Manchester United are unhappy with Premier League’s scheduling after being handed the Chelsea game later this month.
According to The Times, Manchester United have spoken to the Premier League to express their dissatisfaction over scheduling three crucial match-ups against tough teams in close proximity. They believe the scheduling hurts the integrity of the top four race as they will have to face three strong teams in the space of seven days.
Manchester United are indeed gearing up for a tough week ahead. Following the exceptional win over Norwich City, the Red Devils face a daunting challenge against Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday.
It will be followed by a trip to the Emirates to face Arsenal on the weekend before they eventually welcome Chelsea to Old Trafford. The Chelsea encounter was recently rescheduled after the Blues reached the FA Cup final, leaving Manchester United with no option but to face these three strong teams in the space of a week.
In a press appearance, interim manager Ralf Rangnick did not hold back on his criticism for the Premier League when asked to comment on the tough fixture list. “The fact that the Chelsea game was changed from the original fixture is something I didn’t think could happen,” Rangnick told MUTV.
“Normally in Germany, the last two games of the season have to be played on the very same day and with the same kick-off time. Obviously, it’s different here.”
“For us, it’s not good because we have a number of injured players so it would have been better for the Chelsea game to be played two weeks later, when it was originally planned. But anyway we have to deal with it and hopefully, by then we have two or three of those injured players available again,” he added.
The daunting fixture list, featuring Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea, could indeed hurt Manchester United’s chances of finishing inside the top four, as we gear up for the final phase of the campaign. The Red Devils are currently fifth in the league table, just three points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
However, failing to perform well in any of these three fixtures could open up the opportunity for clubs like Arsenal and West Ham United to overtake them in the league table. The weekend encounter against the Gunners, in particular, could go a long way in shaping up the top four race, lthough, in the meantime, Manchester United will focus on the upcoming game against arch-rivals Liverpool.
