Premier League Teams: The Curious Delay in Facing Every Club
Fans following Premier League teams have noted an unusual scheduling issue this season. Many clubs are facing teams for the second time this midweek, while at least one opponent remains unplayed. Aston Villa, for instance, will take on league leaders Arsenal again, despite not yet facing Nottingham Forest.
Unai Emery’s Bafflement Over Fixtures
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery expressed confusion over this scheduling anomaly. He stated, “It is the first time in my career, spanning 20 years, that we are concluding the first part of the season without playing 19 teams.” He admitted to struggling with understanding why this scenario has occurred but ultimately accepted it as part of the season.
Comments from Aston Villa’s Director of Football
Damian Vidagany, the director of football for Aston Villa, echoed Emery’s sentiments. He described the scheduling as “a mystery.” In a post on X, he elaborated on the potential biases influencing fixture arrangements.
- Scheduling appears to favor certain clubs during the busy Christmas period.
- Vidagany criticized the logistics of back-to-back away games.
He pointed out that playing two away games within 72 hours can hinder recovery for players. He mentioned the benefits of playing consecutive home matches for better recovery.
Fixture Scheduling Bias?
Vidagany cautioned against interpreting this situation as a political matter. “We are not having any influence over the scheduling, which would be unacceptable,” he stated firmly. As discussions about fixture fairness continue, the peculiarities of this season’s schedule leave many questions unanswered.
