Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola criticized the English Premier League for planning their penultimate match in the campaign only 72 hours after the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace, in the middle of a tight race for Champions League qualification.
The sixth placed city has played one match Less than Chelsea and Aston Villa, fourth and fifth, which are only one point above the champions of the last four seasons, because all three want to guarantee a top five finish to qualify for a European match.
The opponents of City on Tuesday are the 10th placed Bournemouth, who still have the chance to finish the eighth, which could give them a place during the playoff round of the UEFA Conference League, provided City Won the FA Cup final.
“We have been fighting these situations for nine years, every season and nothing goes,” Guardiola told reporters on Friday.
“We are going to play on Tuesday evening against one of the most intense and physical and direct and powerful teams in the Premier League, Bournemouth, who play for the Europa League of Conference qualification. It will be difficult.”
Guardiola pointed to the Premier League decision to move Tottenham Hotspur's visit to Aston Villa from Sunday to Friday, giving them more time to prepare for Wednesday's Europa League final against Manchester United.
“The Premier League has made a good decision, very good. We played on Wednesday all the time and (then) we play on Saturday … We didn't need extra that day,” the manager said.
“People say (the schedule) is for broadcasters, more fans or followers and other things. The previous year they had more followers in the other game, not our game. They are tired of seeing us.”