MANCHESTER UNITED boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hit out at his side’s fixture schedule and said dates are decided by ‘people who have never played football’.
The Red Devils booked their place in the Europa League final with an 8-5 aggregate victory against Roma.
But it means Solskjaer’s side are facing the prospect of playing six games in just 17 days.
Next up is an away trip to Aston Villa on Sunday followed by a home game against Leicester on Tuesday.
United’s re-arranged clash against Liverpool, which was postponed following the huge Old Trafford protest against the club’s owners the Glazer family, is on Thursday.
On May 18 United host Fulham, May 23 is Wolves away before Solskjaer leads his troops into the Europa League final to take on Villarreal on May 26.
Speaking to BT Sport about the fixture pile-up, with four games in a WEEK, Solskjaer said: “It’s unheard of. It’s made by people who have never played football at this level.
“It’s physically impossible for the players. We have not been dealt a good hand.
“We are going to need everyone for these four games. It’s a short turnaround but we have to be ready.”
Speaking after securing United’s spot in the Europa League final, Solskjaer reiterated his anger and added: “We’ve been dealt a very bad hand by people who sit behind a desk in suits who never play football or understand what this is about.
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“I’ve got to look after the players, that’s the biggest thing.
“Two games in three days is difficult but you can accept that we do that at Christmas. Two games in three days after a long season, with all the games we’ve had, even more difficult. Three games in five days, very very difficult, almost impossible. Four games in eight, it is impossible.
“We cannot risk injury for players and that’s too much of an injury risk.
“I’ve got to think about my players but I know there will be teams fighting for the Champions League places that will not think that’s Manchester United’s best team, in that team that’s not the best players.
“That might affect whoever gets into the fourth position or the Champions League. That’s not my problem. That’s everyone else’s problem.
“I can promise you that it’s impossible to play 90 minutes at this intensity, at that level in the Premier League four times from Thursday to Thursday. That means I cannot play everyone every minute which means we’ve got to prioritise.”
And according to a chief of world players’ union FIFPro Jonas Baer-Hoffmann. their players are at risk of serious injury.
A FIFPro report published yesterday found Europe’s top stars play up to 80 per cent of their minutes in the so-called ‘critical zone’ where risk of injury is high.
MAN UTD’S CHAOTIC FIXTURE PILE-UP
No wonder Ole is fuming…
Sunday, May 9 – Aston Villa (A)
Tuesday, May 11 – Leicester City (H)
Thursday, May 13 – Liverpool (H)
Tuesday, May 18 – Fulham (H)
Sunday, May 23 – Wolves (A)
Wednesday, May 26 – Villarreal (Europa League Final)
Baer-Hoffmann blasted: “United play four games, May 6 to the 13, including travel. This is just not physically possible.”
Despite raging at the hectic schedule, Norwegian Solskjaer is delighted to be in the Europa final.
The 48-year-old added: “It feels good to be in the final. We played one very, very good half at Old Trafford which has taken us through.
“I’m disappointed we lost – especially the way we played in the second half.
“It could easily have been 8-6 to them. It was a strange game. We kept giving them the ball but luckily we have one of the the best keepers in the world. We are in the final and are looking forward to May 26.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
