MANCHESTER CITY HANDED CARABAO CUP FIXTURE NIGHTMARE THANKS TO MAN UTD

Manchester City have been handed a nightmare run of fixtures, with their League Cup clash against Watford set to take place just two days after a crucial Premier League game against Arsenal.

City are set to host Arsenal at the Etihad on Sunday September 22 and Watford will then make the trip to Manchester on Tuesday September 24. That means City will not be able to train between the two games and raises concerns over player welfare.

Pep Guardiola has previously hit out over the schedule, stating last season that it was "unacceptable" that City were expected to face Chelsea in the semi-finals of the FA Cup just three days after their Champions League quarter-final defeat to Real Madrid on penalties.

"It's unacceptable," Guardiola said after his side beat Chelsea 1-0. "It's really unacceptable. Coventry, United and Chelsea don't play in the week, [but] they let us play today. Next week, on Friday it would be better.

"Instead of Saturday, put it on Friday to let us have a recovery. It's impossible, for the health of the players! It's not normal. Honestly, it's not normal. We didn't have the courage to tell you, to FIFA we shut up, but it's not possible. It's unacceptable - 120 minutes.

"All of you are football players. The emotion against Madrid, the quarter-final, we lose and everything. So honestly, I know this country, it is special for many things but it is for the health of the players. I don't understand how we survived today."

UEFA's changes to the Champions League and Europa League formats are responsible for the latest scheduling nightmare, with City unable to have an extra rest day and host Watford on Wednesday, September 25.

Local rivals Manchester United are due to play FC Twente at Old Trafford that same evening, with the Manchester Evening News reporting that UEFA were 'unwilling to move that game' and Greater Manchester Police were reluctant for two matches to be played on the same night.

The last time they both played at home on the same day was in October 2015 when City beat Crystal Palace 5-1 in the fourth round of the League Cup, while United were knocked out of the competition on penalties by Middlesbrough.

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2024-09-04T12:12:55Z dg43tfdfdgfd