Aston Villa officials have expressed frustration with the Premier League after the scheduling of their match against Tottenham was moved forward by two days to assist Spurs in maximizing their preparation time for a possible Europa League final appearance. Originally set for Sunday, May 18, the match will now take place on Friday, May 16, just five days before the Europa League final in Bilbao, Spain.
Tottenham holds a 3-1 lead over Bodø/Glimt in the Europa League semifinal, with the return leg taking place on Thursday in Norway. This rescheduling gives Villa, who are fighting for a Champions League qualification spot, less time to prepare for Tottenham, and Spurs may field a stronger lineup since they now have additional recovery time ahead of the potential final. The change also complicates travel and logistics for some Villa supporters.
Monchi, Villa’s president of football operations, expressed his dissatisfaction with the decision on social media, calling the rescheduling “not what we wanted” and noting it was “the least damaging alternative.” He added that Villa fans “didn’t deserve this” and that the club had worked hard to maintain the original fixture for the benefit of their team and supporters.
Damian Vidagany, Villa’s director of football operations, criticized the move in a detailed post on social media, suggesting there was “clear prejudice” against Villa fans and lamenting that the club had not received adequate support during their previous European campaigns in the Europa Conference League and this season’s Champions League.
Villa currently sits in seventh place in the Premier League, competing with five other teams for one of the four remaining Champions League spots, with Liverpool already qualified. While it’s common practice in other leagues, this is the first time the Premier League has adjusted fixtures to accommodate teams playing in European finals.
Manchester United, also in the Europa League semifinals, holds a 3-0 advantage over Athletic Bilbao from the first leg and will also play on Friday, May 16, against Chelsea. If both teams reach the final, they will have the same preparation time ahead of the Europa League decider.