Manchester City have made a request to the Premier League amid their title battle with Arsenal.
City and Arsenal are currently locked in an epic battle to be crowned champions of England. The Gunners looked as if they were going to run away with it earlier in the season, but the Citizens have pegged them back in recent times.
With just a month of the season to go, Arsenal are top of the table having amassed 73 points from 34 matches. City are three points back, but they have a game-in-hand.
Arsenal are hoping to become champions of England for the first time since 2004, while City are bidding to win the Premier League for a ninth time.
Man City Ask the Premier League For Fixture Help
Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola
According to the BBC, City are in discussions with the Premier League over the scheduling of two of their remaining fixtures.
City's away fixture against Bournemouth, originally scheduled for Sunday, May 17, will be moved because Pep Guardiola's side reached the FA Cup final, which they will contest against Chelsea on Saturday, May 16.
Their home game against Crystal Palace, which was initially due to be played in March but could not go ahead, is still to have a date confirmed by the league.
It has been proposed that the two fixtures will fall in-between the FA Cup final. It is understood a date of Wednesday, May 13 has been proposed for Palace's trip to City, while their trip to face Bournemouth has been mooted for Tuesday, May 19.
City, considered one of the best teams in world football, aren't thrilled with this proposal, though, and are keen to explore alternative options. They have asked the matches to be 'flipped' to give them an extra day of recovery ahead of the FA Cup final, according to the Mirror.
They want to face Bournemouth on Tuesday, May 12, and then Palace on Tuesday, May 19. The Premier League is expected to announce when City will play both matches soon.
City's request hasn't gone down well with football fans. One supporter on Reddit said: "This would be disgraceful. They want to swap the Palace and Bournemouth fixtures around because playing Bournemouth 3 days after a game, and Bournemouth having 10 days rest and preparation, is a massive banana skin. It's nothing to do with the 24 hours, the game can easily be moved back a day or two. It's the swapping of the Palace/Bournemouth fixtures that would be super advantageous to City and would be messed up if it's allowed to happen."
Another commented: "Ridiculous if this is accepted," while a third said: "Embarrassing to even ask, they think they’re PSG."
Wayne Rooney Predicts Arsenal to Win the Premier League
Wayne Rooney speaks as a pundit
Wayne Rooney has admitted he would 'rather be in Man City's dressing room than Arsenal's as they battle for the title. He said on the Wayne Rooney Show:
“[I’d rather be in] City’s 100%. You’d rather be in City’s one because I think Arsenal win it [the title], but it’s a challenge for City to go and win it again. “Whereas I think all the pressure is on Arsenal.”
Despite that, he still thinks Arsenal will hold on and win the title.
He continued: “I think next weekend if Arsenal win, by the time City play on Monday night, six points are this stage of the season, now that’s big.
“And then City have got Everton away. You know, if City don’t win that game, that puts added pressure onto City.
“You can say the same thing if Arsenal don’t win and then City go and win on Monday night, knowing that they’ve got a game in hand.”