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Fixtures give Manchester United the Euro edge, says Arsene Wenger
James Olley21 Apr 2009
Arsene Wenger has criticised the fixture compilers for scheduling Arsenal's Premier League games to give Manchester United an advantage in next week's Champions League semi-final.
The Gunners face Liverpool at Anfield tonight before a home game against Middlesbrough on Sunday while United play Portsmouth tomorrow and Tottenham on Saturday evening.
That will give Sir Alex Ferguson's side an extra day to prepare for next Wednesday's first leg at Old Trafford, for which Manuel Almunia (ankle), Gael Clichy (back) and Johan Djourou (knee) are all still hoping to be fit.
Liverpool have not played since last Tuesday's Champions League exit at Chelsea but Arsenal have had just 72 hours to regroup following Saturday's FA Cup semi-final defeat to the Blues and Wenger said: “I would have liked a few days more to recover before Liverpool.
“We play tonight then we play Sunday again — nobody knows why we do not play on Saturday but we have to deal with that.
“That's why we have to rotate a little because we cannot survive with the same XI. They are winners, they have gone through more difficult things than today. So let's put in a good performance on Tuesday night.”
The Premier League declined to comment officially but privately Wenger's comments were met with the response that there are a lot of factors that have to be considered and these things tend to even themselves out'.
Tonight's match will be shown live on Sky Sports while Sunday's visit of Gareth Southgate's side has been chosen by Setanta for their lunchtime slot. United also have a slight advantage before the second leg is played on 5 May as their match at Middlesbrough has been moved from Sunday to a Saturday 12.45pm kick-off while Arsenal are at home to Portsmouth on the same day at 3pm.
Wenger complained in January that United had been “unexplainably advantaged” by the fixture schedule while ex-Chelsea boss Avram Grant was furious last season that the Blues' match against Everton was switched to a Thursday night to satisfy television demands.
Meanwhile, Wenger has renewed his attack on the state of the Wembley pitch and says it will affect England. He said: “It will be a handicap. Do you think Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney don't want to play on a good pitch?”
Reader views (11)
Sunday play Toure, Silvestre, Sagna, Gibbs, Denilson, Diaby, Eboue, Arshavin, Bendtner, Eduardo and Wednesday play: Toure, Silvestre, Sagna, Clichy, Song, Fabergas, Walcott, Nasri, Van-persie, Adeybaor. Still leaves players like Djourou, Ramsey, Vela to rotate with as well? All should be ok, just need to rotate.
- Newmy, Milton Keynes, 21/04/2009 17:06
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Steven, oh so wrong, I'm no spud fan as you put it. Chelsea fan mate, & we play many games too, including taking liverpool outta the champions lg cup, & then on Sunday, taking the Arsenal outta the FA cup, which we'll probably do again, if we meet them in the champs lg final & Whinger keeps putting out the wrong team. No complaints from Gus though, who is relishing all these games!
If Whinger keeps moaning, then of course the media will jump on his case, because that is all he seems to do.
- Dom, London, 21/04/2009 14:19
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What a surprise, Arsene getting his excuses in early before the event, just as he did with the Wembley pitch and the FA cup semi-final last weekend. Funny how you never hear any of the top four moaning about the extra money from all the competitions they are in and the TV money it brings, helping them to buy a whole squad in order to deal with injuries etc.
- Paul, London, 21/04/2009 13:51
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I don't understand how Man utd were able to move a fixture forward 24 hours with consent of Sky before the second leg, but Arsenal can't move their fixture against Boro to the Saturday for the first leg?
- Trevor, Northolt, 21/04/2009 13:44
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He also said they are still in the title race at his press conference ! The man is totally deluded, is an absolute bore and the sooner he leaves these shores the better please. One of the major factors why they lost on Saturday was down to his poor team selection/tactical substitutions. The amount of hype and spin associated with this football club is incredible.
- Mark, Essex, 21/04/2009 13:27
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The immediate response to Wenger's comments from people like Tom from Croxley show just how badly Wenger has been portrayed by the media. If Ferguson or some other managers had made these comments they would've been portrayed as the first shot in a masterful attempt at mind games.
But Arsene makes a perfectly valid point, which puts the onus on United to perform, and he is immediately accused of "whining". How ridiculous?!
Or is it just that Tom and Dom are sad little Spuds fans with nothing better to do than comment about things that don't concern them? Wenger is talking about the Champions League semi-final here, you know guys? Something Spuds and their fans are never likely to experience.
- Steven, London, 21/04/2009 12:27
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The fixture list favouring Man Utd?
Well I never!
- Michael, London, 21/04/2009 12:20
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Rafa Nadal, plays two high octane games in a day !!.
The average footballer wanders around, for half of the game, and the pour little loves can't play every four days
- absolutely pathetic -
- Mike, Luton, 21/04/2009 12:19
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That is nonsense, Tom. All Premier league managers moan about the fixture schedule, Fergie especially likes to whine about it on a regular basis.
Barring long term injuries to key players , Arsenal would be challeging for the top spot in the Premier league this season and without doubt would have beaten Chelsea in the FA cup on saturday. Even with a team missing most of their regular defenders, United will find it hard to beat them over 2 legs in the Champions League semi-final and it will no great surprise if Arsenal proceed to the final.
- Nick Stembridge, london, 21/04/2009 11:51
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Mr Whinger moaning again? Never!
- Dom, London, 21/04/2009 11:40
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Will this guy ever stop whining about something,it seems everything and everyone is out to get him..he is pathetic at times and needs to look at his own house before stating facts about all other matters...it seems all at the f.a want Man Utd to win the lot even the fixture computer is a Utd fan..Can`t he see that his young,but weak side are not good enough in the end to win a trophy of note again,he cannot see his own sides weakness like a poor keeper,weak defence and lightweights in the middle...pull the other one whinger and look at the whole picture
- Tom, croxley, 21/04/2009 11:04
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