"It is not fair to play one of these games like this. It is just not right. The reality is we cannot come in to one of the most important games in the season with such a disadvantage, in terms of rest. I wasn't feeling in a perfect condition to play like this, and people who have not played at the highest level don't know how it feels to play a game like this. You need to be at your best condition."
"I don't think that they are trying to make us lose a game. It could happen to Arsenal or Liverpool in a few months. But when you are playing an Arsenal v City, or a City v Liverpool, or a Liverpool v Arsenal, you need to have a bit of common sense, and understanding of these situations."
Manchester City had 66 hours to prepare for the Arsenal match after a midweek Champions League game, creating a significant rest disadvantage. Arsenal had extra recovery time following a midweek European trip. The match ended 1-1 after Gabriel Martinelli scored in stoppage time. The congested schedule produced notable fatigue within the City squad and hindered peak performance. Concerns were raised about Premier League fixture planning creating tougher schedules for clubs competing in Europe. The combination of heavy appearance loads and short turnarounds left players unable to perform at optimal physical condition.
Read at www.bbc.com
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