MANCHESTER CITY are set to suffer fixture chaos after Storm Ciara postponed their clash against West Ham.
Pep Guardiola’s side were due to take on the Hammers at the Etihad this afternoon but the gale force winds whipping the country have put an end to that.
Guardiola is set for a fixture headache with Man City’s games piling upCredit: EPA
And City’s involvement in the Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup means they will be forced to squeeze in the game elsewhere.
The Premier League is currently in the midst of a winter break, with City’s turn to play obviously being this weekend.
With clubs likely putting in place plans for warm weather training, it is unlikely both would cancel those in favour of getting the game played.
City – whose fans fear they might lose Guardiola soon – are not due to return to action until February 22, when they travel to Leicester.
After that on February 26 comes the Champions League trip to Real Madrid and on March 1 the Carabao Cup final against Aston Villa at Wembley.
FIXTURE CARNAGE
March is absolutely full for Guardiola’s team, with an FA Cup fifth-round clash against Sheffield Wednesday coming before the Manchester derby on March 8.
Six days later they take on Burnley at home and on March 17 welcome Real to the Etihad.
On March 21 they travel to Stamford Bridge and then there is the international break.
Should City progress in the Champions League to the quarter-final stages then the fixtures in between their Prem games at the start of April would be occupied too.
That likely leaves a midweek game on April 21/22 as the next viable option.
City host Newcastle on April 18 – although they could have to postpone this one too owing to FA Cup participation – and travel to Brighton on April 25.
May 13 could be the next available date after that should they still be in the Champions League.
But complicating matters is the fact City also have to rearrange a clash against Arsenal that has been postponed owing to the Sky Blues being in the Carabao Cup final.
It means there could be a mad dash at the end of the season – with the final round of games coming on Sunday, May 17.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
