Soccer

End-of-season showdown ruled out

The Premier League have ruled out any prospect of Chelsea meeting Manchester United in a title showdown after the final day's…

Tue Mar 20 2007 - 00:00

The Premier League have ruled out any prospect of Chelsea meeting Manchester United in a title showdown after the final day's fixtures have been completed on May 13.

With both clubs advancing to the FA Cup semi-finals last night, their scheduled league clash on April 15 at Stamford Bridge has now been postponed.

For Chelsea in particular, this represents a problem because Jose Mourinho's men are running out of free dates in the fixture calendar.

With both championship challengers using a free midweek in the middle of next month to play games that have had to be called off on Easter Monday because of their European commitments, the only spare dates remaining are between the final two games of the season.

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However, Chelsea's situation is complicated by Spurs' UEFA Cup quarter-final meeting with Sevilla in Spain on April 5.

Although the La Liga outfit are attempting to get the game moved because of the major religious festival which takes place in the town at that time, if UEFA say no, Tottenham are entitled to ask for their following Premiership game — at Chelsea on the Saturday — to be put back 24 hours.

But with Chelsea due to travel to Spain themselves to face Valencia in the Champions League the following Tuesday, manager Jose Mourinho seems sure to resist the switch, a move which could see that game shifted to the last week of the season as well.

One logical way of solving the logjam, and ensuring Chelsea do not have to play four games in the final week of the campaign, would be for the Premier League to put the United encounter back given the match will affect no-one but the two sides involved.

However, League sources have rejected the idea and insist the season will finish as planned.

In related news, the FA has announced the semi-final venues fo this season's FA Cup semi-finals.

As expected, the Football Association have scheduled Blackburn's match with Chelsea at Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United.

The game will kick-off at 4pm on Sunday, April 15 and will be televised live by Sky Sports.

Watford will face Manchester United at Villa Park, Aston Villa's home ground the previous day. Kick-off is at 5.30pm, with the BBC providing live coverage.