It's been an often-used criticism of the Premier League that they do not help their teams in Europe like other leagues across the continent do but they risk a number of problems if they do not look at rescheduling Tottenham's game against Aston Villa next month.
First off and to be clear, there's no presuming when it comes to Tottenham, especially during this otherwise dreadful season. It's certainly a big if over whether Spurs will get to the Europa League final because they face a Bodo/Glimt side in the semi-finals that, while facing up to five or six key players missing the first leg, has toppled plenty of big clubs this season in the competition with their football and their Aspmyra Stadion in particular proving to be a fortress.
However, the possibility of the north London side managing to seal their place in the final must be planned for in case it occurs and with Aston Villa losing their FA Cup semi-final to Crystal Palace so the Premier League game between Unai Emery's side and Spurs currently remains set for Sunday, May 18.
That would give Tottenham just three days to recover and prepare for a potential Europa League final in Bilbao on May 21.
In a statement released on Sunday, Spurs said: "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."
Spurs are understood to have suggested a number of alternative dates in order to allow for a larger block of days to mentally and physically prepare for a potential showpiece final.
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 and they are also chasing a top five spot in the Premier League so want to prepare fully for the Spurs game. May's matches for Villa are all spaced out currently with one every seven to eight days.
A cynic might suggest that Villa will be well aware that if the Spurs game goes ahead on May 18 then Ange Postecoglou is likely to name a complete shadow XI of fringe players and young players, in order to protect the team he wants to play in the final. While that would benefit the home side at Villa Park, it's not exactly going to go down well with the others in the top five chase. It's diluting the Premier League product.
Villa's objection also reportedly includes an issue that the match, which is Villa's final home game of the season, is set to include a number of pre-planned family activities which will not be possible if it was to be an evening fixture.
Teams in other European leagues often get fixtures moved by their authorities to help them give their best in continental competition, because ultimately it reflects well on the domestic league if they succeed. AZ Alkmaar had similar assistance from the Eredivisie last month before playing Tottenham in the round of 16.
Athletic Club look set to get similar aid from La Liga if they can get past Manchester United in the other semi-final next month. The Bilbao side currently have a game at Valencia slated for May 18 but it is listed as 'to be determined'. Reports in Spain suggest La Liga could move that fixture a day back to Saturday May 17 at the least, and their previous game against Getafe would be pushed back as well.
The Premier League are often criticised by managers for not helping their teams when in Europe, with fixtures before and after games often in close proximity, and if they do not step in this time then they will also allow a situation where the Premier League schedule favours Manchester United should Ruben Amorim's side and Spurs both manage to reach the final in Spain.
That's because United are currently set to travel to Chelsea on Friday, May 16 rather than having a weekend game. That would currently mean a two-day advantage over Tottenham should both teams make it to the final, meaning the Premier League would have allowed one of their teams to have an advantage over another in a major European final, which would open them up to plenty of criticism.
Tottenham can propose a change and Villa can offer up their objections, as both appear to have done, but ultimately it is down to the Premier League to decide. Common sense must prevail.