Man City Captain Silva Criticizes Scheduling After Arsenal Draw

Bernardo Silva Speaks out against congested fixture schedule

Man City captain Bernardo Silva criticizes congested fixture schedule, citing unfair advantage in Arsenal match. Read more.

“Look, the schedule is the schedule and I understand you have different competitions, and UEFA...”

Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva has criticized football's scheduling system, feeling his team was at a disadvantage in their 1-1 draw against Arsenal due to insufficient preparation time. City played just 66 hours after their Champions League win over Napoli, whereas Arsenal had more time to recover from their European match against Athletic Bilbao.

Silva believes that common sense should prevail when scheduling major fixtures, ensuring both teams have equal rest periods. “We ask for common sense because this is one of the biggest games of the season. The players need to be in the same physical conditions; otherwise, it's not fair,” Silva emphasized.

The City captain pointed out that playing every three to four days isn't the issue, but having adequate rest before crucial matches is essential. He cited teammate Abdukodir Khusanov's injury as evidence of the physical toll from congested scheduling.

Key Concerns:

• Insufficient Rest: City had only 66 hours to recover from their Champions League win, while Arsenal had more time.

• Fixture Congestion: Silva emphasized the need for common sense in scheduling major games.

• Player Welfare: The physical demands of playing high-stakes matches with limited rest increase the risk of injuries.

Manchester City's tight schedule seemed to catch up with them in their Premier League match against Arsenal. With barely any rest after their Napoli game, City struggled to keep up with Arsenal's pace, despite taking an early lead through Erling Haaland's goal in the 9th minute. Bernardo Silva believes the demanding fixture list was a decisive factor in City's late frustration, which ultimately led to a 1-1 draw.

Silva's point about City's tiredness is well-taken, considering Guardiola chose not to rotate his players despite the congested schedule. This decision might have contributed to City's inability to hold onto their lead, especially given their record-low possession average of 32.8% under Guardiola's management. The draw was a fair result, given the teams' performances, with both sides showing resilience and quality.

“The reality is we cannot come into one of the most important games in the season with such a disadvantage, in terms of rest. It is not fair to play one of these games like this. It is just not right,” he said.

“They had five days and we had two and a half days. In one of the most important games, this cannot happen. It is just not enough.

“I wasn't feeling in a perfect condition to play like this, and people who have not played at the highest level don't know how it feels to play a game like this. You need to be at your best condition.

“We saw (Abdukodir) Khusanov getting injured because these games demand a lot. I feel it is just frustrating that we couldn't be at our best level simply because of the decision of someone that thinks it is fair to come away after two and a half (fewer) days than Arsenal.”

Bernardo Silva isn't alone in his concerns about the demanding schedule. Many players and coaches have voiced similar complaints, citing the physical and mental toll of playing multiple high-intensity matches with minimal rest. Silva's comments reflect a growing sentiment that the current fixture list is unsustainable and poses a significant risk to player welfare.

🚨 Bernardo Silva: “We cannot come to one of the most important games [vs Arsenal] in the season with such a disadvantage, in terms of rest”.

“It's not fair to play one of these games like this. It's just not right”, told @spbajko. pic.twitter.com/t8nYyFeJ6w

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 22, 2025

“Look, the schedule is the schedule and I understand you have different competitions, and UEFA, the Premier League, and the broadcasters want to make their money,” he said.

“What we ask for is common sense because this is one of the biggest games of the season. The players need to be in the same physical conditions, otherwise I don't think it is fair.”

Silva expressed frustration, believing that voicing concerns about the schedule to football's governing bodies would likely fall on deaf ears. He feels that the current system prioritizes fixture scheduling over player welfare, leaving athletes with little recourse or support.

“They don't listen to us. We would like to change something. But it never changes,” he said.

“It does not really matter, but for the fans, for the respect of the clubs, and for the fairness of the competition, I don't think what happened was good.”

Highlights from our draw at Arsenal 💪🩵 pic.twitter.com/t9kl7bf9lZ

— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 21, 2025

Match Highlights:

Early Goal: Erling Haaland scored his 5th goal in 3 games against Arsenal, showcasing his exceptional form.

Arsenal's Dominance: Arsenal dominated possession, with 68% of the ball, and created numerous chances, but struggled to score until Gabriel Martinelli's late equalizer.

Stoppage-Time Drama: Martinelli came off the bench to score a superb injury-time equaliser, claiming a point for Arsenal in the 93rd minute.