Crystal Palace Manager Criticizes EFL for Fixture Scheduling
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has expressed his dissatisfaction with the English Football League (EFL), accusing it of disrespecting the UEFA Conference League amid his team's congested fixture schedule.
Palace is set to face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday at 20:00 GMT, a match that has been scheduled for the week following the other quarter-finals.
The EFL arranged the fixture against Arsenal after Palace played KuPS in the Europa Conference League last Thursday, sandwiched between Premier League matches against Manchester City on December 14 and Leeds United on Saturday.
Glasner voiced his concerns following Palace's 4-1 defeat to Leeds, which left the team with only one victory from eight outings in the Europa Conference League this season. He stated, "This is the only criticism I have for the EFL. I believe scheduling a round when a Conference League match is played demonstrates a lack of respect for the Conference League, as they would never schedule a round during a Champions League or Europa League week."
He added, "This scheduling may be the reason we are facing such a tight turnaround now, forcing us to play again in just three days. However, it also highlights that we are competing in four tournaments, and we embrace the challenge of these games; it's not a complaint about the number of matches we have."
The upcoming match against Arsenal will mark Palace's fourth game within a span of ten days. The EFL has previously defended its scheduling decisions, stating in November that the "expansion of European cup competitions" was implemented without sufficient consultation with domestic leagues.
The EFL acknowledged its willingness to compromise but noted that scheduling conflicts have become "entirely unavoidable." UEFA's European calendar now spans ten midweeks, an increase from six two seasons ago, with each of the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League receiving a dedicated week for visibility.
This situation has created logistical challenges, necessitating that the third round of the EFL Cup be seeded and played over two weeks to prevent clashes between clubs in the Champions League and Europa League.