Manchester City could take a huge step towards their quadruple on Saturday when they face Brighton in the FA Cup semi final but they will do it without selling out their allocation for tickets, amid a ridiculous kick off time.
Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City team went back top of the Premier League table on Wednesday night with a routine 2-0 win over relegation threatened Cardiff City. It leaves the champions just six games from retaining their title.
City won the Carabao Cup on penalties earlier this season, when they beat Chelsea in the match that will go down in infamy thanks to Kepa, and they have their eyes on four pieces of silverware this season.
The Premier League champions face Spurs in the quarter final of the Champions League and on Saturday they will return to Wembley to face Brighton in the FA Cup semi-final, with a final against Watford or Wolves on the line.
Advert
With the Community Shield visit in August it is already the third time City will have played at the national stadium but they won't be doing so in front of a full crowd.
According to the Daily Mail, Guardiola's team have sold just 25,000 of their 30,000 ticket allocation and have sent 2,000 tickets back to the FA.
The returned tickets are the most expensive £120 seats but tickets for all price ranges, from £30 all the way to £120, remain on sale from the club.
Advert
The Manchester side have come in for a lot of criticism and snide japes from opposition fans over the perceived lack of fans at the Etihad for home games and it's likely to continue here.
However the FA putting the game on at 5.30 puts a new light on the problem. Trains back from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly stop at 9.24 on Saturday night and with extra time and penalties a possibility there's no guarantee of fans getting home.
City also have two more games to play in London in the following eight days after the semi-final, first they face Spurs in the Champions League next Tuesday and then Crystal Palace in the league the following Sunday.
Advert
Following Tuesday's game at Spurs new stadium trains run till 11 o'clock, giving fans well over an hour until the last train home.
It's a huge shame that Wembley won't be full for such a big game but once again it shows how ridiculous it is to have semi-finals at Wembley, and with such late kick off times.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Manchester City, Liverpool, Football News, Football fans, Pep Guardiola, English Football, Premier League, FA Cup, Fans, Brighton