Tottenham will be hoping for a quick resolution when it comes to their game at Aston Villa that is set for the penultimate weekend of the campaign. In the calendar to be played on Sunday, May 18, Spurs will be on course for a fixture nightmare if they are to reach the Europa League final the following week.
The game in Bilbao is set for Wednesday, May 21, meaning Spurs would have next to no time at all to prepare for what would be their biggest game in years providing of course that they beat Bodo/Glimt in the semi-finals. Keen to avoid that potential scenario playing out, Tottenham have submitted a request to the Premier League regarding the Aston Villa match.
"We should like to inform supporters that we are in discussions with the Premier League regarding a change in date to our away Premier League match against Aston Villa, currently scheduled for Sunday 18 May," read a club statement on Sunday morning. "Further information surrounding this fixture will be announced in due course."
Tottenham are understood to have suggested a number of alternative dates in order to allow for more time to prepare for a potential showpiece final. Aston Villa are said to have opposed a move, having played matches every three to four days in April due to their Champions League and FA Cup games.
Unai Emery's side are also firmly in the mix for a Champions League spot via the Premier League's top five and they will want adequate time to fully prepare for the visit of Spurs. It leaves the Premier League with a huge call to make over the fixture.
Amid the possibility of Tottenham and Manchester United possibly meeting in the Europa League final, the Red Devils could have two extra days on Ange Postecoglou's men if the fixtures remain on the same date. United's visit to Chelsea is now set to be played on Friday, May 16 as both clubs are taking part in the Women's FA Cup final on the Sunday.
If Tottenham's game remains on the date it is currently set for then all eyes will be on Postecoglou's team at Villa Park if they have a Europa League final to look forward to three days later. The Australian is already playing it safe with a number of key players ahead of their semi-final clash and his XI in the Midlands may well compromise of fringe players and youngsters in that scenario.
In December 2019, Aston Villa were involved in a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie that saw them brush aside a very young Liverpool side 5-0. As Jurgen Klopp's side were competing in the Club World Cup in Qatar at the same time, Under-23s boss Neil Critchley took charge of a side which had the average age of 19 years, six months and three days.
Current Liverpool players Caoimhin Kelleher and Harvey Elliott were part of the Liverpool starting XI that day. The Premier League would not want to see Tottenham do something similar at such a crucial point in the season because that in turn would raise questions about integrity and other things.
Teams such as Newcastle United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest would also have something to say if Spurs were to field a weakened team that resulted in Aston Villa picking up three crucial points that could change the complexion of the race for Champions League football. One thing for certain regarding the Villa match is that Postecoglou will do whatever he thinks is best for the club if they have an opportunity to win silverware for the first time in 17 years three days later.
Ultimately it is down to the Premier League to decide on a date for the Aston Villa vs Tottenham match and common sense must prevail. If not, it could open a whole can of worms in the process.