Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva has criticized the scheduling of football matches, citing a lack of respect and fairness after his team's preparation time for their match against Arsenal was significantly reduced.
City played to a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium just 66 hours after concluding their Champions League match against Napoli, leaving them with minimal time to recuperate. In contrast, Arsenal faced Athletic Bilbao in their Champions League opener 48 hours prior to the game against City.
Silva suggested that City's fatigue was a key factor in the match, as Arsenal appeared to dominate after Erling Haaland's early goal, ultimately equalizing in stoppage time with a goal from Gabriel Martinelli.
Despite manager Pep Guardiola opting for an unchanged lineup against Arsenal, Silva expressed concern that the fixture congestion negatively impacted their performance. He stated, "The reality is we cannot come into one of the most important games of the season with such a disadvantage, in terms of rest. It is not fair to play one of these games like this. It is just not right."
Silva emphasized the disparity in rest periods, noting that Arsenal had five days while City only had two and a half days. He articulated frustration at not being able to perform at their best due to scheduling decisions, mentioning the risk of player injuries in high-demand games.
He acknowledged the complexities of scheduling due to competing interests from UEFA, the Premier League, and broadcasters, while still advocating for a more balanced approach to rest periods, particularly for significant matches. Silva remarked, "What we ask for is common sense because this is one of the biggest games of the season."
Furthermore, Silva expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of voicing concerns to governing bodies, stating, "They don’t listen to us. We would like to change something. But it never changes." He concluded by highlighting that the current scheduling undermines fairness in the competition, emphasizing the need for respect for players and clubs.
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