Manchester United pressure Premier League over fixtures

Manchester United’s qualification for the Champions League, alongside competing in both the EFL Cup and FA Cup, has put more matches on the team’s plate, with the club now pressuring the Premier League into action.

United’s opening match of the season, against Hull City, was changed to a Saturday lunchtime kick-off, tightening preparations, whilst the side’s fixture against Ipswich Town, at Old Trafford, was also rescheduled for Sunday afternoon.

Further rescheduling is likely to follow in the coming months, forcing Michael Carrick and his coaching staff to adapt their preparations for matches.

One of the busiest times of the season comes during the Christmas period, with Premier League clubs scheduled to play three games in seven days stretching from Saturday 26th December to Saturday 2nd January.

Formal clarification from the League on its scheduling for these fixtures has not emerged yet, however, with MailSport journalist Mike Keegan now revealing the latest.

Reporting on the Daily Mail website, Keegan has said that pressure from Manchester United to bring announcements forward to allow supporters more time to plan and to minimize disruption has been applied.

United, alongside the Football Supporters Association, met with senior counterparts at both the Premier League and broadcasters to urge that supporters should be looked after whilst also asking for earlier decisions relating to December scheduling to be made, according to the report.

The journalist has also said, as a result of this pressure, the Premier League will reveal their schedule for its Christmas fixtures today with an announcement expected later this afternoon.

For match-going fans and clubs across the League, this represents a huge win. Through earlier scheduling, supporters will be handed invaluable weeks to make their plans, reducing the chance of last-minute failed plans or having to chance their plans altogether due to complications with schedules.

Manchester United are set to host Nottingham Forest (26th December) and Sunderland (29th December) at Old Trafford before travelling to Brighton and Hove Albion (2nd January) in their festive/new-year calendar.

Announcements regarding these fixtures, alongside trips to Crystal Palace and Arsenal, may come in today’s announcement from the Premier League.