Bernardo Silva Slams ‘Completely Crazy’ Schedule As Manchester City Face Two Games In 48 Hours

Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva has vented his frustration at the football schedule after learning his side are set to play two games within three days.

Pep Guardiola’s City already had the daunting prospect of three games in eight days after the international break. They return to Premier League action against Brentford on Saturday 14 September, before facing Inter Milan in the Champions League next Wednesday.

They then play title rivals Arsenal on Saturday 22 September, and now must play Watford in the Carabao Cup just two days later.

The Watford game had been set to take place on Wednesday 25 September, but UEFA have refused to move Manchester United’s Europa League match at Old Trafford on the same night.

With Greater Manchester Police lacking the resources to host two major fixtures at the same time, City have been forced to play on the Tuesday, barely 48 hours after Arsenal.

The club have not given an official comment on the schedule change, but Silva was asked about it ahead of Portugal’s match with Croatia.

Bernardo Silva’s Schedule Complaints Echo Guardiola’s Frustration

Speaking to journalists before his nation’s 2-1 victory in Nations League Group 1, 30-year-old Silva made his feelings crystal clear.

He said: “I think there are two completely different issues here,

“When the players complain, people say that players can’t complain about the life they have. And they’re right because we’re fulfilling a dream and we do what we do.

“On the other hand, the schedule is completely crazy. We’ve just received the news that we only have one day off for the English League Cup game.”

The attrition of fighting for multiple trophies throughout the season has often been discussed as an issue for top sides.

In April, City manager Guardiola again complained about what he called an ‘unacceptable’ schedule.

Faced with a similar situation, City were forced to play the FA Cup semi-final just days after a Champions League match.

“I don’t understand how we survived,” Pep said at the time.

“It’s impossible, for the health of the players. It’s not normal.”

And Bernardo Silva was equally scathing towards City’s upcoming fixtures.

He added: “We play Arsenal, we rest for a day and then we have the game against Watford. And if we don’t get knocked out of any other competition, we’ll play every three days for months. It’s been absolutely absurd.

“In the Champions League, if you don’t qualify for the round of 16 you still have to play two more games. It’s true that the squads are bigger, but I’m not going to say that it’s easy.

“It hasn’t been easy. I spend very little time with my family and friends. The amount of games we’re subjected to is absolutely absurd.”

Manchester City’s Schedule For September

• Sat 14th – Brentford (H) – Premier League (15:00)
• Wed 18th – Internazionale (H) – Champions League (20:00)
• Sun 22nd – Arsenal (H) – Premier League (16:30)
• Tue 24th – Watford (H) – Carabao Cup (19:45)

City’s four games in ten days gives them one day less rest than rivals Manchester United and Liverpool.

Both play their fourth match after the international break on Wednesday the 25th of September – a day after City’s clash with Watford.

However, Arsenal fans may have something to say when it comes to having the worst fixture congestion.

Like City, the Gunners also play four times in ten days. First, they have the North London Derby at Tottenham on Sunday 15th September.

They then play Atalanta in the Champions League before facing City in the league and then Bolton in the Carabao Cup on 25th September.

However, unlike City, who play all four of their upcoming games at home, Arsenal are on the road in three of their four matches.

Mikel Arteta’s men must travel to Italy in between probably the two biggest league games of the season.

Visiting Spurs and City is hard enough, without a massive European fixture in the middle.

But one thing all fans and players will agree on is that such congested schedules are an issue for everyone.