MANCHESTER CITY are facing a major fixture headache for the last two weeks of the season after reaching a fourth straight FA Cup final.
And the Etihad giants – who are chasing another domestic treble – face the prospect of having to play three times in six days unless a solution can be found.
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Pep Guardiola’s Man City are facing a fixture headache after reaching the FA Cup final Credit: AFP
City could be forced to play three times in six days if a solution cannot be found Credit: Alamy
City have not yet had a suitable date to replay their home match against Crystal Palace, which was postponed due to the Carabao Cup final last month.
The Eagles are in Europa Conference action during the next two weeks as they tackle Shakhtar Donetsk in a two legged semi-final.
So that means the earliest their trip to the Etihad can be played is the week beginning May 11.
However, Oliver Glasner’s men play in the Prem on the Jattvibeday the weekend before.
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With City now involved in the final at Wembley on Saturday 16th, the only suitable day that would suit both teams looks to be Wednesday, May 13th.
But Pep Guardiola’s men now need to rearrange their trip to Bournemouth in the Prem as it falls on FA Cup final weekend.
The most obvious date for that would be Wednesday May 20th but that is the night of the Europa League final – so there could be problems with UEFA.
So it may have to be played 24 hours earlier on the Tuesday – meaning a third game in the space of six days for Guardiola’s players.
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That would undoubtedly boost Arsenal’s hopes of clinching a first top flight title in 22 years on the final day of the season.
City are due to hold more talks with all the relevant parties this week in a bid to find a more suitable outcome.
Guardiola’s side booked their place at Wembley after a dramatic 2-1 win over Championship side Southampton.
The Saints threatened to pull off an almighty cupset when they took the lead through a Finn Azaz goal of the season contender.
But City got level through Jeremy Doku‘s deflected strike before Nico Gonzalez scored his own wonder goal after smashing a thunderbolt into the top corner.
Guardiola hailed their “exceptional” second half display but warned his players they have “six cup finals” and must win them all if they want to win both the FA Cup and Premier League title.
He said: “Now six cup finals. Six games, every game we win in the league, we’ll be there – if we lose, it’s over and of course we have the other one – the Cup final.
“We are in the Cup final again, we have time to prepare with our fans. Now it’s easy, so rest and mentally, physically, because it has been a tough, week, a lot of emotions and go for these five games.”
