Manchester United have spoken to the Premier League to complain about the integrity of the top four race after rescheduled fixtures leave them facing three huge matches in nine days.
United will face Liverpool on Tuesday and Arsenal on Saturday, after which they will have just four days to prepare to host Chelsea after their fixture was brought forwards to 28 April following the Blues' advancement to the FA Cup final.
With the race for the top four so tight - United are three points behind Tottenham and tied with Arsenal - The Guardian note that the Red Devils are frustrated to have so many huge fixtures in close succession, especially as they still have a 15-day gap between their final two games of the season.
Club officials have contacted the Premier League to question the integrity of bringing the Chelsea fixture forward to this time, suggesting that the other clubs in the hunt for the top four will not face anything as gruelling.
"The fact that the Chelsea game was changed from the original fixture is something I didn’t think could happen,” interim boss Ralf Rangnick told MUTV of the decision.
“Normally in Germany, the last two games of the season have to be played on the very same day and with the same kick-off time. Obviously it’s different here.
“For us it’s not good because we have a number of injured players so it would have been better for the Chelsea game to be played two weeks later when it was originally planned. But anyway we have to deal with it and hopefully by then we have two or three of those injured players available again.”
Rangnick is already without Fred, Scott McTominay, Raphael Varane, Edinson Cavani and Luke Shaw for Tuesday's meeting with Liverpool, while Cristiano Ronaldo's involvement is in doubt after he announced the death of his baby on Monday evening.
Source : 90min