Chelsea FC Manager Antonio Conte, in his weekly news conference today, called on the league to alter the fixture schedule, claiming it is unfair that Tottenham Hotspur and his side are playing at different times during the stretch drive. Chelsea visit Everton on Sunday, kickoff at 2 pm time local.
They are currently on top of the table, leading Tottenham by just four points. Spurs host Arsenal in the weekend’s marquee fixture on Sunday. The north London derby kicks off at 4:30 local time.
Both Tottenham and Chelsea have just five games remaining on the season, but they will only play at the same time on the very last day of the 2016-17 campaign.
Conte believes that the schedule is unfair, and he wants changes that would allow clubs in title contention to play their final three matches at exactly the same time. He told his Friday news conference:
“At the end of the season, I think that when you have two teams in the race, in contention for the title, I think you must have a good balance to try to put the fixtures in the same hour, on the same days, and don’t give advantage to one team or another.”
“When you arrive at the last three games, when you see there are two or three teams very close to fight for the title, you have to find a solution not to give advantage for one team or another. Try and keep it the same hour, the same days to rest.”
“I think, at this part of the season, every game is very tough for many reasons. You have a lot of pressure. You know you have to win. When you have to play with this target, yes, it’s not simple. It’s not easy.”
“But not only for us. Also for Tottenham. But we are ready. I repeat: we’ve worked a lot to arrive at this point fighting for the title.”
“For this reason, we want to reach our target with all our strength. We have to do our job with the right pressure but, at the same time, to enjoy this moment,” Conte continued.
We shall see if the league decides to follow his advice or not. If any changes do happen, they probably wouldn’t be for awhile. In other Antonio Conte news today, the former Italian national team manager dropped hints that he could be clamoring for a return to managing in his native land.
Here’s a link to more on that.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes to WGN CLTV and KOZN.
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