Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva has criticized the Premier League fixture schedule, claiming his side were at a disadvantage in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
Gabriel Martinelli scored a stoppage-time equalizer for the Gunners, denying City a victory. Silva said the outcome was influenced by the lack of rest, with City having just 66 hours to prepare after their 2-0 Champions League win over Napoli on Thursday, while Arsenal had played Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday.
“It is not fair to play one of these games like this. It is just not right,” Silva said. “The reality is we cannot come into one of the most important games of the season with such a disadvantage in terms of rest. I wasn’t feeling in perfect condition to play, and people who haven’t played at the highest level don’t know how it feels to play a game like this. You need to be at your best condition.”
City manager Pep Guardiola echoed the concerns, describing his squad as “incredibly tired” against Arsenal. In January, he had previously highlighted how English teams often face tougher schedules in Europe due to Premier League planning.
Silva, who made 62 appearances for club and country last season, stressed that the issue is not targeted at City specifically. “I don’t think they are trying to make us lose a game. It could happen to Arsenal or Liverpool in a few months. But when you are playing an Arsenal v City, or a City v Liverpool, or a Liverpool v Arsenal, you need to have a bit of common sense and understanding of these situations,” he said.
