Manchester City, and Manchester United won’t be part of the teams that will be involved in the opening fixture of the English Premier League on September 12.
Both team were recently knocked out of the UEFA Champions League and the Europa League. Due to their participation in the European competition, they will be getting additional days off.
City was knocked out of the last eight by Olympique Lyon while five times Europa League winners Sevilla sent Manchester United packing in Germany in the last four. The Spanish team will be playing Inter Milan which mauled Shaktar Donetsk in the final.
Both Manchester teams will, therefore, miss the opening weekend of the Premier League after being granted an extended summer break.
ESPN reports that they will be getting a 30-day break between their final games of this season and the new campaign.
Since City lost the clash to Lyon in the Champions League quarterfinals on August 15, they are likely to start three days after others in the Premier League. This means their fixture might be moved into the midweek.
For United, who were knocked out of the Europa League 24 hours later, there could be midweek action for them as well. If that is going to be the case, City and United still have to play each other or one of the teams through to the Champions League or Europa League group stage in their opening matches. The 13 clubs without European football will be in Carabao Cup second-round action in the midweek of Sept. 15.
Also, Tottenham will be playing their first Europa League qualifying fixture on the same date.
Manchester United players get two weeks vacation
After their ouster in the Europa League, United’s players have been given two weeks vacation and are expected back in training early next month.
It means the club has just two weeks for preseason before resuming the Premier League campaign. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be hoping that it will be enough for the lads to recharge their batteries and charge for the Premier League titles this time around after finishing last season on the third spot.
After their vacations, both City and United will expectedly organize warm-up games to help them prepare.
However, ESPN sources said this is”unlikely” as either will use the preseason to schedule international friendlies.
