• Premier League

Tottenham want City-Stoke clash rearranged

ESPN staff
April 19, 2011
Stoke City reached the FA Cup final by hammering Bolton Wanderers 5-0 on Sunday © Getty Images
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Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp has urged the FA to bring forward the date of Manchester City's Premier League match with Stoke City.

The two sides were due to meet at Eastlands on the same weekend as the FA Cup final, but both clubs' participation in the Wembley clash has forced a reshuffle, meaning the league game will now be played on May 17 - in the final weekend of the domestic season.

If Stoke lose the FA Cup final, they would only be able to play in the Europa League if City finish in the top four of the Premier League, leading to suggestions that the Potters may lack motivation in the clash with Roberto Mancini's side.

If so, that would jeopardise Tottenham's bid for a spot in the Champions League, where they are locked in a battle with City - and Redknapp has called for a change in the date of the Stoke fixture.

"I'm sure [Stoke boss Tony] Pulis wouldn't want to lose any game, but I think there is a problem with it in other people's eyes," Redknapp told Sky Sports. "The timing is bad, no-one would say Stoke wouldn't try to win, but the whole thing would be surrounded by people looking at it and wondering what's going on if they do get beat.

"The Premier League should look at it. I spoke to the chairman yesterday about it, we feel it should be changed, for sure. It's out of my hands, it's up to the powers that be."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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