Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has blasted the Premier League over the club’s run of four games in just eight days.
The Red Devils went through to the Europa League final with an 8-5 aggregate win against Roma on Thursday, but Solskjaer was not in a celebratory mood in his Friday press conference.
United are in for a tough week, where Solskjaer’s squad depth will be tested to the full, with three league games scheduled in the next five days.
After their clash with Liverpool was postponed last week due to protests against the Glazer family, the club find themselves in a tough situation.
Following their intense Europa League semi-final win over Roma on Thursday, United visit Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday before two home games against Leicester on Tuesday May 11 and Liverpool on Thursday May 13.
United then face another tough run with their final three fixtures of the season taking place in a eight-day stretch, beginning at home against Fulham on Tuesday May 18, then away at Wolves on Sunday May 23, and finally against Villarreal in the Europa League final on Wednesday May 26.
Fitness and potential injury concerns has Solskjaer livid at the Premier League’s decision to make them play so many games in so little time, and the boss didn’t hold back when he spoke ahead of the Villa clash on Friday.
“It’s unheard of,” said the United manager.
“It’s a decision made by people who’ve never played football at this level.
“It’s physically impossible for the players to do it after being here, [and then] playing Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday.
“Two games in three days is difficult but you can accept that. We do that at Christmas. Two games in three days after a long season, with all the games we’ve had, even more difficult. Three games in five days, very, very, very difficult. Almost impossible. And four games in eight, it is impossible.
“I can promise you that it’s impossible to play 90 minutes at this intensity, at that level in the Premier League four times from Thursday to Thursday.
“But I think you all know me – I hope you do, anyway. We’ll take the challenge head on. I’m not sitting here sulking but I’m just saying someone there does not understand the physicality of the Premier League.
“It’s the best league in the world. I don’t know how you can defend playing these three games in such a short space of time.
“I’ve got to look after the players. That might be someone not happy with my team selection for one game or two games.
“That might affect whoever gets into the fourth position or the Champions League. That’s not my problem. That’s everyone else’s problem.”
With Man City’s Premier League title essentially clinched, and United’s Champions League spot not in real danger, Solskjaer will have his eyes on the Europa League final against Villarreal.
However, he admits he will need his players to dig deep during this tough period, and with discontent from supporters, a tough schedule and an expectation for a trophy at the end of the season, Solskjaer has a job on his hands.
“I feel for the players, I feel for the team,” he added. “I feel for them having had this fantastic season, got to a final, and I’m sat here answering these questions and not about the run-in.
“They’ve worked their socks off. They’ve been absolutely brilliant and I’m just very, very happy for them that we’ve got to this place.
“We just have to do our best. It’s another challenge for us and, please, you can see I’m not happy with it, I’m not sulking.
“It’s one of the things that I know my players will take head on and we as a group will be stronger for it when we come out of it.
“I just keep my fingers crossed that no one will get injured. That’s going to be my biggest concern, injuries.
“Harry Maguire has played every minute for us in the Premier League since he came. I don’t think that’s possible now.
“That’s another record or another stat that he could have been very, very proud of but I can’t really see that happening now.”
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