Does Jose Mourinho's Manchester United fixture
pile-up complaints add up?
United's 1-1 draw with Swansea was the ninth game played in April by Mourinho's side, who play the first leg of their Europa League semi-final against Celta Vigo on Thursday.
They could end up playing 64 games this season if they progress to the final in Stockholm, and the stats support Mourinho's thoughts that fixture pile-ups across different competitions can be detrimental to a league campaign.
If United reach the Europa League final, they will end the season having played 17 games more than champions-elect Chelsea, who have not had to contend with European football this term.
"In the end, it was a blessing that we didn't play in the FA Cup semi-final," Mourinho said after the Swansea draw. "We go again to the same problem. You are punished because you are doing well."
But is it possible to win the Premier League playing this many games in a season? Since the conversion to a 38-game campaign in 1995, only three champions have played more than 60 games, and only one has played more than United's potential 64.
Sir Alex Ferguson's 2008/09 side played 66 games in all competitions on their way to the Premier League title, having to juggle their 38-game season with 13 games in the Champions League, six in the League Cup, five in the FA Cup, two in the Club World Cup, the Community Shield clash and the UEFA Super Cup final.
United's 1-1 draw with Swansea was the ninth game played in April by Mourinho's side, who play the first leg of their Europa League semi-final against Celta Vigo on Thursday.
They could end up playing 64 games this season if they progress to the final in Stockholm, and the stats support Mourinho's thoughts that fixture pile-ups across different competitions can be detrimental to a league campaign.
If United reach the Europa League final, they will end the season having played 17 games more than champions-elect Chelsea, who have not had to contend with European football this term.
"In the end, it was a blessing that we didn't play in the FA Cup semi-final," Mourinho said after the Swansea draw. "We go again to the same problem. You are punished because you are doing well."
But is it possible to win the Premier League playing this many games in a season? Since the conversion to a 38-game campaign in 1995, only three champions have played more than 60 games, and only one has played more than United's potential 64.
Sir Alex Ferguson's 2008/09 side played 66 games in all competitions on their way to the Premier League title, having to juggle their 38-game season with 13 games in the Champions League, six in the League Cup, five in the FA Cup, two in the Club World Cup, the Community Shield clash and the UEFA Super Cup final.
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