Aston Villa appeal to Premier League needs to be upheld concerning Tottenham | OneFootball

Scheduling can make a huge difference. Particularly across the number of competitions, a lot of matches can be packed into a short amount of time. The density of games is part of the responsibility for any manager, particularly during a winning season.

Tottenham Hotspur is now looking to change the date for the Premier League fixture against Aston Villa on Sunday, May 18. If Spurs were to win their two legs against Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League semi-finals, they would then play the final on Wednesday, May 21. Ange Postecoglou's side is asking for more days in between their last EPL match and potential UEL final in order to best give them a chance for a trophy in Europe's secondary competition.

According to a post shared by Sky Sports News on X, Aston Villa wrote to the Premier League, voicing their objection to the request from the London-based team. It is typical in other leagues throughout the continent to allow fixtures to be moved to allow for the domestic clubs to keep the Champions League or UEL a priority. This isn't the case in the Prem, however.

Part of what makes the EPL the best league in the world is not only the quality of talent but also the grueling and demanding set of games that are played. To now ask for a change to benefit them would set a negative precedent.

After all, Villa are competing for a Champions League spot, and playing someone with one eye looking ahead and maybe not being as focused on the Sunday match late next month is simply part of the equation of what a manager needs to juggle.

Navigating the placement of matches is part of the challenge

Unai Emery and Monchi responded to this demand with a 'starting 22' approach. Postecoglou now also needs to make a choice. Either attempt to go for a result in both fixtures with full capacity or take the day off in whichever one he sees as less of a priority.

To ask now for a switch-up in late April flies against what is expected and is part of the challenge in the Prem. AVFC are doing the right thing in filing this grievance. In competitive gamesmanship, using anything to your advantage within the rules has to enter into the equation. Aston Villa ensuring that everyone plays on the same difficult playing field does a service for the rest of the league.