Chelsea face fixture pile-up after FA Cup draw
Chelsea’s draw with Manchester United in the FA Cup on Sunday has left Rafael Benitez’s side facing the possibility of three games in six days and caused a headache for the Football Association, the Guardian has reported, as the governing body tries to fit the cup replay around Europa League, Premier League and international commitments.
Matters will be complicated further should Chelsea come from behind to beat Steaua Bucharest in the Europa League - trailing 1-0 from the first-leg, the second-leg is to be held at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.
The FA are keen to wait to see how Chelsea fare in the Europa League but the Premier League could push for a solution sooner. The Premier League are one of a number of parties that will have to be consulted - others include FIFA, because of the looming round of international fixtures, television broadcasters, who could be asked to move the date of some of their planned screenings, and local police authorities, who would have to arrange policing for Chelsea’s matches.
Chelsea found themselves two goals down in rapid order against United at Old Trafford on Sunday, Javier Hernandez and Wayne Rooney on target, only to level the game through Ramires and Eden Hazard in the second-half and force the troublesome replay.
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