Manchester City put forward a number of different proposals for their fixture issues and they do not agree with the Premier League's reasoning
Pep Guardiola reacts during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal
Manchester City are furious with the Premier League over their rearranged fixtures
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Manchester City offered to travel to Bournemouth three days before the final day of the Premier League season as part of five different proposals to solve their fixture mess that were all rejected. The Blues are furious at being left with two long trips in four days at the end of their campaign after the league took nearly three months to rearrange a game.
With the FA Cup final taking place on the penultimate weekend of the English season, City wanted their Premier League game with Bournemouth that was originally planned for that time to be moved forward and played before it. This is what happened with their league game with Burnley before the FA Cup semi-final and what the club believe follows a stated Premier League principle that the games should be played before the cup matches.
However, the Premier League insisted on putting the home game with Palace - postponed since the Carabao Cup final - in that slot, and with Oliver Glasner's side playing the previous Sunday that fixture had to take place on Wednesday, May 13, - giving City a shorter turnaround than is ideal for the FA Cup final. City had previously offered three earlier dates to reschedule the Palace match, including last week when the Burnley game subsequently took place, and the Premier League had indicated that would be fine before later changing their mind.
The main issue, however, has been the timing of the Bournemouth game. City took umbrage at being unable to play on Wednesday, May 20, because UEFA would like to keep the schedule clear for the Europa League final, pointing out that Arsenal's postponed fixture from the Carabao Cup final had been brought forward to a night where there were four Champions League games.
And, contrary to online claims, City were also willing to play Bournemouth on Thursday, May 21, if Wednesday was out of the question. This was not immediately ruled out, yet the Premier League ultimately opted for Tuesday, May 19 instead.
That leaves City with three games in seven days and, more importantly, two long trips in four days that will leave little to no time for preparation between leaving Wembley after the FA Cup final and arriving at the Vitality Stadium for a Premier League clash that could determine the winners of the whole competition.
It has been a delicate and complicated situation, with the Premier League not helped by City's progress in both cup competitions and the success of English teams in both the Europa League and Conference League. The Blues maintain, though, that the Palace fixture should have been sorted before now given it has nearly been three months since it was displaced from the calendar.