Ralf Rangnick explains why Chelsea fixture change is bad news for Manchester United

Ralf Rangnick admits that the timing of Manchester United's rearranged Premier League clash with Chelsea next week has done his side no favours in their quest for a top-four finish.

United were due to face Thomas Tuchel's side in their penultimate match of the season on Sunday 15 May, but will instead face them a week on Thursday in the rearranged clash. The fixture change has come about due to Chelsea's success in the FA Cup, with the Blues now set to face Liverpool in the final of the competition on Saturday 14 May.

It means United will now endure a 15-day gap between playing their final two matches of the season and Rangnick believes his side have been hard done by in regards to the fixture schedule.

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“The fact that the Chelsea game was changed from the original fixture is something I didn’t think could happen,” Rangnick told official club media.

“Normally in Germany, the last two games of the season have to be played on the very same day and with the same kick-off time. Obviously it’s different here.

“For us it’s not good because we have a number of injured players so it would have been better for the Chelsea game to be played two weeks later when it was originally planned. But anyway we have to deal with it and hopefully by then we have two or three of those injured players available again.”