Manchester City Face Busy Three Weeks
By David Crook
After a storm claimed the Manchester City fixture against West Ham United last weekend we all knew there would be some fixture chaos to come.
Manchester City have agreed to curtail the planned Winter break early so as to play the rearranged game against West Ham United as soon as possible – on Wednesday 19 February.
Whilst there has been widespread media support for Liverpool and their refusal to use first team players for a FA Cup replay during their winter break, it is fair to say the response to City’s dilemma has been somewhat different.
In fact the London Standard even ran with a story about City’s refusal to play this coming Saturday, despite all the players and managers being on holiday. All are in fact due to return to the club at the end of this week, meaning the game next Wednesday in fact has several days of preparation.
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Nevertheless as it stands City face a daunting looking 3 week schedule, during much of the season will be settled one way or another. The fixtures are as follows:
- Wed 19 Feb City v West Ham
- Sat 22 Feb Leicester v City
- Wed 26 Feb Real Madrid v City
- Sun 1 Mar Aston Villa v City Carabao Cup Final
- Wed 4 Mar Sheff Wed v City FAC
- Sun 8 Mar United v City
It may well be that Pep Guardiola is quite happy to have squeezed in the West Ham game next week. It could provide a useful way for his team to ease into a rhythmn in advance of the trials to come. Of course, a defeat there could make the next 3 weeks pass extremely slowly!
As City fans though, this is the business end of the season and if we harbour any ambitions in our remaining competitions then these are the matches when we must raise our performance levels.
On a personal note I had hoped that the West Ham game would be rearranged at the end of the campaign, as West Ham are a club I like and I hoped to be able to do them a favour by playing our second string. That at least now no longer looks possible.
It is hard to imagine now, but in just 3 weeks our fate in the Champions League and FA Cup, as well as whether or not we retain the Carabao Cup will most likely be decided. Come on City!