Manchester City unhappy with EFL scheduling of Checkatrade Trophy quarter-final
Thursday 17 January 2019 11:05, UK
Manchester City are unhappy with the EFL over the scheduling for the Checkatrade Trophy quarter-final, which will take place the day before their Carabao Cup semi-final, Sky Sports News understands.
The holders take a 9-0 lead into the match against Burton on January 23, and Pep Guardiola wanted to select a younger side for the second leg.
But that has been thwarted by the EFL, who are refusing to budge on the date for the Checkatrade Trophy quarter-final match between City's U21 side and Sunderland, which will be played on January 22.
Sky Sport News understands that six alternative dates were suggested by City but all were rejected by the EFL - either for policing reasons or because they would fall outside a self-imposed deadline for when the rounds must be played.
The club are particularly upset because they feel that they have shown EFL competitions the utmost respect - winning the EFL Cup in three of the last five seasons, and their U21 side are the only remaining Premier League representatives in the EFL Trophy.
Pep Guardiola is known to be concerned by the lack of meaningful games his academy products are able to play, and saw the semi-final second leg against Burton as an ideal opportunity to give some of them valuable experience.
But he may have no choice but to field his first-team players at Burton despite the 9-0 lead.
In a statement, the EFL said the decision to play the Checkatrade Trophy game 24 hours before the semi-final was made after "full consideration" of the arguments put forward by both clubs.
"There is a significant amount of sympathy with the position outlined by Manchester City with the fact that the dating of this game could remove one opportunity for the club's younger players to play in a first-team competitive game."
"The EFL is committed to delivering valuable playing opportunities for young players and would have assisted, if it had been practically possible, but the alternative dates all had issues with them.
"The EFL is grateful for the support of both clubs towards the Checkatrade Trophy and Pep Guardiola's backing of the Carabao Cup."
