Chelsea to Play Tottenham Just 72 Hours Before Potential Barcelona Clash

Chelsea’s Champions League hopes have been dealt a major blow as their FA cup semifinal against Tottenham has been scheduled for 6pm on April 15—just 72 hours before their probable semifinal date with Barcelona or AC Milan.

Chelsea interim manager Roberto Di Matteo is furious with the newly-arranged fixture date and kickoff time and has slammed the FA for potentially undermining the Blues’ chances of reaching the final. The Italian feels, with Chelsea the only remaining English club in the Champions League, his team deserved better treatment from the FA.

Di Matteo is quoted in the Daily Mail piece above as saying:

“Look at the other federations. They give you the best possible preparation. It does make a big difference, absolutely, that 24 hours.

“This year we’re looking at just one (English) club left in the quarter-finals. It doesn’t reflect well on England, the Premier League or the FA.

“It’s in everybody’s interest for (our) clubs to get further in the competition. I’d say that common sense hasn’t prevailed.”

The former West Brom boss also revealed that the west London club’s proposal to have the FA Cup semifinal slated in for Friday night (April 13) had fallen to the FA's deaf ears.

Chelsea are hands-on favourites to qualify for the Champions League semifinals ahead of Benfica, who the Londoners beat 1-0 in the first Leg at Estadio da Luz.

In stark contrast, Chelsea’s potential opponents Barcelona will have eight days to prepare for the April 18 encounter. The Catalans’ last domestic fixture prior to the Champions League semifinal date is a La Liga fixture against Getafe on April 10.

Barca, too, are favourites to progress to the semis, after drawing 0-0 with AC Milan in the first leg at the San Siro.